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 28262

Charlotte: median income $69,231, home value $346,600, $184/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orlando, FL 32821 92%480$69,348$309,600$212 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78728 90%1,037$75,243$437,000$217 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32256 89%355$73,570$382,500$212 pricier homes ($36K more)
Austin, TX 78753 88%1,039$65,170$371,300$233 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75287 87%932$63,741$405,600$230 pricier homes ($59K more) · older homes
Fort Worth, TX 76132 85%970$63,924$396,200$178 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents
San Antonio, TX 78240 85%1,114$63,351$257,500$166 cheaper homes ($89K less) · older homes
Gainesville, FL 32608 84%406$61,588$358,200$206 more homeowners
Austin, TX 78741 82%1,045$66,741$420,100$267 pricier homes ($74K more) · more renters
Austin, TX 78758 82%1,040$74,381$440,200$231 pricier homes ($94K more) · more walkable · older homes
Irving, TX 75038 81%944$68,990$408,000$232 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · older homes
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 80%240$72,067$364,300$202 more homeowners
Greenville, SC 29607 80%97$74,503$359,500$194 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Fayetteville, AR 72703 80%754$60,568$391,000$240 pricier homes ($44K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Lewisville, TX 75067 80%941$78,752$343,900$206 older residents
Stafford, TX 77477 80%948$75,744$257,300$151 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 79%582$71,329$314,900$190 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75235 79%936$63,393$294,500$249 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · more walkable
Euless, TX 76039 79%949$83,140$341,300$218 older residents · older homes
Spring, TX 77380 79%926$88,562$375,500$215 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30318 78%236$83,116$430,600$248 pricier homes ($84K more) · more homeowners
San Marcos, TX 78666 78%1,067$54,737$306,700$173 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43240 77%355$82,895$329,200$224 smaller
Fargo, ND 58104 77%1,150$85,747$359,400$177 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Arlington, TX 76006 77%950$59,139$294,200$172 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · older 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.