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 Wilmington, NC 28403

Wilmington: median income $54,547, home value $386,700, $277/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eugene, OR 97401 92%2,482$52,022$494,100$328 pricier homes ($107K more)
Fayetteville, AR 72703 87%928$60,568$391,000$240 less walkable
Provo, UT 84606 85%1,891$52,811$443,600$275 pricier homes ($57K more) · younger residents · more renters
State College, PA 16801 83%454$61,836$414,600$228 pricier homes ($28K more)
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 83%297$72,067$364,300$202 Very close on everything we compare
Nashville, TN 37208 83%521$65,556$520,000$315 pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller · newer homes
Orem, UT 84058 83%1,895$74,553$472,400$226 pricier homes ($86K more)
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 83%1,905$65,548$434,700$306 pricier homes ($48K more)
Arcata, CA 95521 83%2,542$53,114$501,000$340 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · older homes
Denton, TX 76205 82%1,107$68,600$335,600$196 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Corvallis, OR 97333 82%2,492$65,191$511,100$351 pricier homes ($124K more) · smaller
Gainesville, FL 32608 81%414$61,588$358,200$206 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable
Grand Forks, ND 58201 81%1,367$68,143$288,500$263 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more homeowners
Missoula, MT 59801 81%2,065$58,347$442,400$345 pricier homes ($56K more) · older homes
Tucson, AZ 85719 81%1,907$42,241$304,300$266 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents · older homes
Gainesville, FL 32607 80%412$45,987$321,900$180 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Madison, WI 53713 80%868$58,017$255,600$229 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Fayetteville, AR 72701 80%927$55,506$355,300$218 cheaper homes ($31K less) · less walkable
Tallahassee, FL 32301 79%455$50,942$226,700$188 cheaper homes ($160K less)
Henrico, VA 23294 78%236$64,164$294,500$223 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · less walkable
Bloomington, IN 47408 78%587$45,644$346,900$188 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Fort Worth, TX 76132 78%1,129$63,924$396,200$178 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78753 78%1,184$65,170$371,300$233 9 min longer commute
Provo, UT 84601 78%1,893$67,207$403,500$249 more homeowners
Tempe, AZ 85281 78%1,946$64,538$381,000$345 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes

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.