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 28409

Wilmington: median income $111,048, home value $422,600, $252/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Watkinsville, GA 30677 95%318$110,250$435,600$220 smaller
Niceville, FL 32578 94%562$108,972$447,700$257 pricier homes ($25K more)
Richmond, VA 23236 93%229$110,499$346,900$211 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Muskego, WI 53150 93%818$109,276$416,400$250 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Charles, MO 63304 93%775$114,442$351,000$198 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Kansas City, MO 64152 93%995$114,688$375,400$184 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Tallahassee, FL 32312 92%450$123,032$432,100$228 Very close on everything we compare
Waukesha, WI 53189 92%827$117,008$406,200$243 Very close on everything we compare
Green Bay, WI 54313 92%900$107,599$323,300$203 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Tallahassee, FL 32309 91%443$113,412$376,000$206 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Tucson, AZ 85742 91%1,913$98,844$368,300$228 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45244 90%496$109,287$382,100$201 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Rockford, MI 49341 90%742$113,989$382,600$224 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Oconomowoc, WI 53066 90%841$113,114$427,900$284 Very close on everything we compare
Hudson, WI 54016 90%1,085$113,085$452,000$224 pricier homes ($29K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Glen Allen, VA 23060 89%242$104,468$409,900$224 more apartments and townhomes
Virginia Beach, VA 23456 89%205$130,533$474,700$251 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37934 89%376$132,264$529,100$241 pricier homes ($107K more)
Saline, MI 48176 89%639$114,206$408,300$229 smaller
Dewitt, MI 48820 89%700$112,526$337,100$181 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Stillwater, MN 55082 89%1,093$115,040$474,400$232 pricier homes ($52K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Shawnee, KS 66216 89%992$111,744$353,300$182 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Cheyenne, WY 82009 89%1,543$103,835$450,600$186 pricier homes ($28K more)
Midlothian, VA 23112 88%226$116,465$398,400$225 larger · 7 min longer commute
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 88%244$141,711$433,900$228 higher income ($31K more)

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.