OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Charlotte, NC 28205

Charlotte: median income $75,622, home value $457,200, $356/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75238 92%925$82,019$568,700$333 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller
Tempe, AZ 85282 92%1,774$79,036$412,000$279 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Houston, TX 77055 91%934$74,369$624,200$278 pricier homes ($167K more)
Tempe, AZ 85283 90%1,775$84,568$442,800$298 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Worth, TX 76107 89%965$79,990$431,200$280 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78745 89%1,046$86,109$504,800$291 pricier homes ($48K more) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80214 89%1,363$75,575$559,100$387 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller
Denver, CO 80223 89%1,359$79,151$539,900$355 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller · older homes
Loma Linda, CA 92354 89%2,063$83,847$564,400$356 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
Charleston, SC 29407 88%173$85,367$451,800$356 more homeowners
Madison, WI 53704 88%712$74,034$318,400$265 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85013 88%1,781$71,966$567,700$315 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95826 88%2,236$82,127$463,300$320 more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30341 87%220$86,313$463,100$287 newer homes
Miami, FL 33166 87%649$81,581$530,300$453 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75208 87%934$81,950$438,400$281 smaller · older homes
Houston, TX 77096 87%938$82,852$432,600$214 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85016 87%1,779$87,850$564,900$363 pricier homes ($108K more)
Dallas, TX 75234 86%934$86,733$351,600$247 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller
Arvada, CO 80002 86%1,365$93,362$558,500$322 pricier homes ($101K more) · smaller
Denver, CO 80226 86%1,364$82,300$568,300$267 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 86%1,345$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Reno, NV 89503 86%2,148$66,743$467,200$298 smaller
Beaverton, OR 97005 86%2,294$78,239$504,300$299 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Winter Park, FL 32792 85%459$69,200$374,200$256 cheaper homes ($83K less)

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.