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 Fayetteville, NC 28305

Fayetteville: median income $78,148, home value $260,900, $175/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clinton, NY 13323 90%584$78,224$244,600$193 larger
Mobile, AL 36604 89%611$66,357$249,300$170 larger
Moosic, PA 18507 88%469$75,395$266,700$165 Very close on everything we compare
Dalton, MA 01226 87%598$79,438$295,700$184 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Hales Corners, WI 53130 85%733$87,008$308,000$243 pricier homes ($47K more)
Brattleboro, VT 05301 84%636$65,910$270,900$220 larger
Akron, OH 44303 84%442$69,743$236,200$136 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
South Bend, IN 46617 84%606$74,186$243,400$253 larger · younger residents
Brewer, ME 04412 83%860$66,613$245,300$194 larger
Saranac Lake, NY 12983 83%688$65,985$225,200$260 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Charleston, WV 25304 83%270$80,931$233,500$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more homeowners
Syracuse, NY 13224 82%572$76,500$218,900$197 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · more walkable
Henrietta, NY 14467 82%557$88,653$225,100$201 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more homeowners
Haslett, MI 48840 82%608$73,408$280,900$184 larger · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70121 82%744$59,562$247,900$175 larger
Sherrill, NY 13461 81%581$88,750$226,900$196 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45236 81%417$84,037$231,300$214 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more walkable
Scottsville, NY 14546 80%554$95,046$187,300$177 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Dayton, OH 45440 80%428$82,383$267,900$158 larger · newer homes
Berrien Springs, MI 49103 80%623$65,827$229,400$185 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · younger residents
South Royalton, VT 05068 79%694$80,911$298,600$226 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · older residents
Morgantown, WV 26501 79%320$63,529$219,800$157 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44126 79%469$79,269$239,000$200 larger · more homeowners · more walkable
Clawson, MI 48017 79%565$88,812$267,500$208 larger · more homeowners
Keego Harbor, MI 48320 79%574$78,150$345,900$192 pricier homes ($85K more) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners

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.