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 28412

Wilmington: median income $71,636, home value $371,900, $240/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sanford, FL 32771 93%420$77,868$371,700$213 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Augustine, FL 32084 91%356$73,837$344,200$228 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Tyler, TX 75703 91%1,012$79,194$336,300$179 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Tucson, AZ 85745 91%1,910$71,348$342,700$244 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32246 90%340$80,963$312,900$222 cheaper homes ($59K less) · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32257 90%349$75,780$339,300$200 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Mckinney, TX 75069 90%1,076$85,327$432,600$242 pricier homes ($61K more)
Chesapeake, VA 23320 89%202$84,305$346,400$219 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Chattanooga, TN 37421 89%416$82,517$333,700$197 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Las Cruces, NM 88011 89%1,661$75,875$333,400$191 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Spokane, WA 99224 89%2,239$80,770$461,000$247 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · less walkable
Greenville, SC 29615 88%256$76,117$377,500$212 older homes
Hermitage, TN 37076 88%510$74,663$384,400$218 6 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37214 88%513$72,012$340,900$243 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Knoxville, TN 37923 88%369$73,699$333,000$213 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older homes
Maumelle, AR 72113 88%826$79,248$291,700$158 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Saint George, UT 84770 88%2,002$70,024$458,300$269 pricier homes ($86K more)
Pensacola, FL 32507 87%608$73,540$318,200$242 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older homes
Spearfish, SD 57783 87%1,551$74,844$373,300$233 smaller
Santa Fe, NM 87507 87%1,590$70,398$363,000$321 Very close on everything we compare
Savannah, GA 31419 86%243$69,635$257,300$178 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Tallahassee, FL 32311 86%448$81,243$321,600$207 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32835 86%442$71,418$349,100$211 Very close on everything we compare
Bowling Green, KY 42104 86%517$75,164$306,400$174 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Canal Winchester, OH 43110 86%476$77,442$304,200$191 cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents

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.