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 28210

Charlotte: median income $100,824, home value $531,700, $315/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 95%296$100,697$613,600$349 pricier homes ($82K more)
Tampa, FL 33611 95%510$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Dallas, TX 75248 94%923$100,414$576,100$254 pricier homes ($44K more)
Charlottesville, VA 22901 93%241$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Middleton, WI 53562 93%719$101,381$532,200$270 smaller
Broomfield, CO 80021 93%1,365$110,038$568,000$292 pricier homes ($36K more)
Austin, TX 78723 92%1,032$100,329$562,300$355 pricier homes ($31K more)
Maitland, FL 32751 91%451$95,387$453,700$291 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78759 91%1,033$102,400$674,000$332 pricier homes ($142K more)
Englewood, CO 80112 91%1,351$108,874$659,200$282 pricier homes ($128K more) · newer homes
Fort Collins, CO 80526 91%1,370$88,686$551,800$273 Very close on everything we compare
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 90%456$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32819 90%463$98,109$489,700$278 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Naperville, IL 60563 90%606$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($96K less) · 6 min longer commute
Fort Collins, CO 80525 90%1,367$91,636$588,400$265 pricier homes ($57K more)
Charlottesville, VA 22902 89%240$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30328 89%218$112,111$561,900$236 pricier homes ($30K more)
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 89%514$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller
Lisle, IL 60532 89%603$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78745 89%1,041$86,109$504,800$291 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Dover, NH 03820 88%770$94,897$436,100$328 cheaper homes ($96K less) · less walkable
South Burlington, VT 05403 88%761$105,616$442,400$281 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30341 88%213$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Atlanta, GA 30345 88%214$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Hopkins, MN 55305 88%948$104,914$451,800$234 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller

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.