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 28213

Charlotte: median income $58,146, home value $282,900, $192/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tampa, FL 33619 92%516$66,134$246,400$222 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Orlando, FL 32810 90%462$60,799$281,100$215 older homes
Murfreesboro, TN 37130 89%319$62,706$371,800$207 pricier homes ($89K more)
Newport News, VA 23608 88%268$71,126$266,500$198 older homes
Union City, GA 30291 88%246$48,184$222,000$139 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43228 88%348$61,713$219,900$186 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older homes
Houston, TX 77040 88%936$65,028$244,700$152 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Austell, GA 30168 87%241$64,059$241,700$178 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Savannah, GA 31419 87%229$69,635$257,300$178 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more homeowners
Jacksonville, FL 32216 87%349$61,821$266,500$181 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Orlando, FL 32826 87%464$64,755$254,300$228 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · younger residents
Cookeville, TN 38501 87%276$52,145$284,600$199 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Houston, TX 77065 87%939$74,605$278,700$148 older residents
San Marcos, TX 78666 87%1,066$54,737$306,700$173 larger · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32244 86%354$62,204$241,700$167 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more homeowners
Pensacola, FL 32514 86%498$66,644$259,600$167 older homes
Orlando, FL 32835 86%469$71,418$349,100$211 pricier homes ($66K more)
Norman, OK 73071 86%938$64,007$215,200$160 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Euless, TX 76040 86%949$72,661$297,900$195 older homes
Dover, DE 19901 85%394$66,388$273,000$183 older homes
Central, SC 29630 85%121$55,264$234,500$173 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Conway, AR 72034 85%661$65,635$274,200$163 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77070 85%936$77,397$288,800$137 Very close on everything we compare
Stafford, TX 77477 85%946$75,744$257,300$151 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Charleston, SC 29406 84%168$49,815$229,300$209 cheaper homes ($54K 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.