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 Kure Beach, NC 28449

Kure Beach: median income $107,563, home value $759,700, $410/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ridgway, CO 81432 90%1,684$90,882$836,200$527 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Freeland, WA 98249 89%2,480$99,519$627,400$404 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger
Grand Lake, CO 80447 87%1,592$96,000$632,400$444 cheaper homes ($127K less) · older homes
Tybee Island, GA 31328 85%219$109,631$619,800$427 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger · older homes
Kewadin, MI 49648 85%858$93,272$633,500$414 cheaper homes ($126K less) · more single-family homes
Fontana, WI 53125 85%825$112,500$593,800$434 cheaper homes ($166K less) · older homes
Langley, WA 98260 85%2,475$101,987$678,400$487 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · older residents
Saugatuck, MI 49453 84%746$110,139$490,600$404 cheaper homes ($269K less)
Edisto Island, SC 29438 83%171$86,979$642,400$452 cheaper homes ($117K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 82%344$89,775$650,500$438 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Indianola, WA 98342 82%2,476$102,778$698,500$414 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Leavenworth, WA 98826 82%2,390$87,646$720,000$411 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Empire, MI 49630 81%862$106,375$497,600$336 cheaper homes ($262K less) · smaller · older residents
Sisters, OR 97759 81%2,411$102,734$777,700$425 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Nordland, WA 98358 81%2,486$110,368$756,000$430 smaller · older residents · more walkable
Bend, OR 97707 80%2,414$85,272$647,600$432 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Union Hall, VA 24176 79%231$98,250$627,000$332 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more homeowners
Coupeville, WA 98239 79%2,487$92,125$593,700$387 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger
Port Ludlow, WA 98365 79%2,485$98,776$673,800$355 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · older residents
Middleburg, VA 20117 78%344$146,120$937,100$395 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($177K more) · older homes
Sunset, SC 29685 78%287$116,742$828,500$381 pricier homes ($69K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Byfield, MA 01922 77%713$142,207$804,900$375 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 77%677$110,450$607,900$424 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Newbury, NH 03255 77%718$117,045$465,000$416 cheaper homes ($295K less) · more single-family homes
East Quogue, NY 11942 77%556$93,710$844,100$675 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · older homes

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.