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 Carolina Beach, NC 28428

Carolina Beach: median income $93,241, home value $572,700, $417/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Augustine, FL 32080 86%353$92,531$535,800$339 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older residents
Miramar Beach, FL 32550 85%554$101,250$741,600$458 pricier homes ($169K more) · older residents
Indialantic, FL 32903 85%439$104,906$533,000$307 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Salisbury, MA 01952 84%718$93,361$478,700$408 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 5 min longer commute · more renters
Hampton, NH 03842 83%724$95,422$548,500$423 larger
Scottsdale, AZ 85250 83%1,944$95,761$583,300$362 larger · more walkable · older homes
Brigantine, NJ 08203 82%420$97,250$524,800$496 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 82%360$102,146$608,800$339 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Riverdale, NJ 07457 81%519$102,950$395,900$411 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 81%598$115,799$616,000$491 pricier homes ($43K more) · less walkable
Williston, VT 05495 80%763$107,054$470,300$288 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · younger residents
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 80%518$117,959$539,000$431 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 80%426$89,457$532,300$353 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older residents
Key Largo, FL 33037 80%637$86,533$683,000$582 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Boca Raton, FL 33487 80%543$96,066$632,100$439 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Orange Beach, AL 36561 80%623$98,295$574,500$490 more renters · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Kennebunk, ME 04043 79%757$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Warren, VT 05674 79%746$86,905$569,300$359 smaller
North Palm Beach, FL 33408 79%514$92,216$611,400$406 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older residents
Safety Harbor, FL 34695 79%504$95,238$439,300$316 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Allentown, PA 18106 77%470$92,813$412,200$233 cheaper homes ($161K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Panama City Beach, FL 32413 77%535$80,039$441,300$334 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger · more renters
Port Aransas, TX 78373 77%1,216$91,106$599,400$392 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Eatontown, NJ 07724 76%481$102,756$522,100$381 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · younger residents
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 75%56$85,247$427,400$281 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · older 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.