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 28209

Charlotte: median income $101,873, home value $623,000, $446/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Houston, TX 77079 92%936$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Boulder, CO 80301 92%1,370$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($170K more)
Atlanta, GA 30305 91%221$106,907$737,500$391 pricier homes ($115K more)
Austin, TX 78759 87%1,034$102,400$674,000$332 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97239 87%2,287$110,134$772,700$321 pricier homes ($150K more) · older residents
Tampa, FL 33606 86%508$120,729$845,600$551 pricier homes ($223K more) · younger residents
Austin, TX 78723 86%1,033$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75244 85%927$120,286$617,800$322 smaller
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 85%1,769$92,851$554,400$388 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Towson, MD 21204 84%374$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older homes
Austin, TX 78702 84%1,036$102,171$686,800$430 pricier homes ($64K more) · newer homes
Austin, TX 78704 84%1,039$106,897$916,100$507 pricier homes ($293K more) · larger · more renters
Atlanta, GA 30342 83%219$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($206K more) · less walkable
Nashville, TN 37204 83%338$109,580$907,500$447 pricier homes ($285K more)
Englewood, CO 80112 83%1,350$108,874$659,200$282 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · less walkable
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 82%295$100,697$613,600$349 larger · older residents
Boca Raton, FL 33431 82%610$107,896$640,700$427 more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55416 82%942$105,958$461,500$272 cheaper homes ($162K less) · older homes
Fort Worth, TX 76109 82%961$100,507$630,800$269 more single-family homes · older homes
Davis, CA 95618 82%2,253$115,591$867,400$483 pricier homes ($244K more) · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80204 81%1,358$84,829$620,500$401 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85016 81%1,775$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · older homes
Tampa, FL 33609 80%509$115,844$605,600$361 older residents · more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37209 80%344$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Middleton, WI 53562 80%717$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older residents

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.