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 28411

Wilmington: median income $97,387, home value $396,400, $260/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tucson, AZ 85742 96%1,916$98,844$368,300$228 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Beaufort, SC 29907 93%210$97,446$428,000$259 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Bluffton, SC 29910 93%227$98,912$487,000$259 pricier homes ($91K more)
Watkinsville, GA 30677 93%322$110,250$435,600$220 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Niceville, FL 32578 93%570$108,972$447,700$257 pricier homes ($51K more)
Midlothian, VA 23112 92%216$116,465$398,400$225 larger
Hudson, WI 54016 92%1,081$113,085$452,000$224 pricier homes ($56K more)
Gansevoort, NY 12831 91%652$100,024$343,100$264 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Glen Allen, VA 23060 91%233$104,468$409,900$224 more apartments and townhomes
Fairhope, AL 36532 91%644$89,694$432,600$230 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Caledonia, MI 49316 91%721$103,238$364,200$218 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Forest, VA 24551 90%225$91,067$362,500$187 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Maineville, OH 45039 90%497$108,794$327,200$196 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Loveland, OH 45140 90%494$114,827$360,300$207 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Rockford, MI 49341 90%736$113,989$382,600$224 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Charles, MO 63304 90%774$114,442$351,000$198 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76126 90%1,142$113,905$383,700$200 Very close on everything we compare
Tucson, AZ 85748 90%1,902$95,750$368,700$221 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Greer, SC 29650 89%257$94,522$342,500$192 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Mill, SC 29715 89%184$109,689$448,100$225 pricier homes ($52K more)
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 89%602$100,396$388,000$221 6 min longer commute
Melbourne, FL 32940 89%454$110,495$467,000$250 pricier homes ($71K more) · older residents
Lakeland, FL 33813 89%502$99,497$366,300$202 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Pelham, AL 35124 89%519$99,726$307,600$182 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Ooltewah, TN 37363 89%416$97,399$376,800$202 Very close on everything we compare

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.