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 28211

Charlotte: median income $132,917, home value $774,900, $360/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Falls Church, VA 22043 91%325$145,881$881,600$456 pricier homes ($107K more)
Portland, OR 97225 91%2,294$114,598$751,700$319 Very close on everything we compare
Englewood, CO 80111 90%1,353$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($142K more)
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 90%2,291$130,603$837,100$364 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30342 89%222$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($55K more)
Dallas, TX 75209 89%931$134,707$864,200$391 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75214 89%927$132,313$777,100$431 older homes
Dallas, TX 75230 89%928$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($157K more) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75244 89%930$120,286$617,800$322 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller
Bothell, WA 98011 89%2,281$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($158K more)
Decatur, GA 30030 88%222$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($143K less)
Atlanta, GA 30319 88%221$130,648$762,500$301 newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30338 88%217$135,148$611,300$249 cheaper homes ($164K less)
Austin, TX 78759 88%1,037$102,400$674,000$332 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less)
Golden, CO 80401 88%1,370$118,039$804,500$350 pricier homes ($30K more)
Fairfax, VA 22030 87%318$139,831$740,400$347 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78731 87%1,039$105,494$903,200$420 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($128K more)
Lafayette, CO 80026 87%1,367$120,187$705,600$310 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Kirkland, WA 98034 86%2,280$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($171K more) · larger
Westborough, MA 01581 85%696$141,944$685,300$394 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 85%170$111,907$755,100$472 larger
Plano, TX 75093 85%926$124,563$670,500$259 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Houston, TX 77024 85%935$136,149$1,127,500$414 pricier homes ($353K more) · older residents
Lone Tree, CO 80124 85%1,353$129,858$773,900$272 smaller · newer homes
Alpharetta, GA 30009 84%213$126,510$640,500$317 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · newer homes

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.