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 28277

Charlotte: median income $128,627, home value $560,600, $269/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carmel, IN 46032 93%447$132,085$496,800$218 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Allen, TX 75013 93%916$146,891$590,700$223 pricier homes ($30K more)
Coppell, TX 75019 92%936$141,923$559,500$266 smaller
Ellicott City, MD 21043 91%365$148,125$620,900$272 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33626 91%495$127,118$577,100$289 smaller
Dublin, OH 43017 91%371$135,922$523,500$226 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older homes
Henrico, VA 23233 90%253$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
San Antonio, TX 78258 90%1,095$117,835$480,500$194 cheaper homes ($80K less)
New Albany, OH 43054 89%364$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78749 89%1,044$111,079$585,200$297 smaller
Roswell, GA 30076 88%211$118,170$489,700$231 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · older homes
Dublin, OH 43016 88%371$109,972$452,000$211 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Plano, TX 75093 88%924$124,563$670,500$259 pricier homes ($110K more) · smaller · more walkable
Littleton, CO 80129 88%1,361$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller
Alpharetta, GA 30009 87%209$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Carrollton, TX 75010 87%929$107,317$484,800$241 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Plano, TX 75025 87%920$143,260$486,100$206 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78717 87%1,031$145,325$652,200$230 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller
Austin, TX 78748 87%1,044$115,213$465,100$240 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Lone Tree, CO 80124 87%1,354$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($213K more) · smaller
Laurel, MD 20723 86%356$138,113$525,400$255 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Alpharetta, GA 30004 86%209$156,100$657,700$249 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($97K more) · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32836 86%461$111,987$677,800$307 pricier homes ($117K more) · smaller
Franklin, TN 37067 86%340$111,759$756,300$313 pricier homes ($196K more) · smaller
The Colony, TX 75056 86%928$119,682$458,200$223 cheaper homes ($102K 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.