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 Sunset Beach, NC 28468

Sunset Beach: median income $83,358, home value $412,000, $244/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Placida, FL 33946 88%536$85,848$660,800$247 pricier homes ($249K more) · smaller
Ocean View, DE 19970 86%375$94,103$526,600$266 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Venice, FL 34292 86%522$80,101$452,100$212 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Green Valley, AZ 85622 86%1,887$76,959$371,100$210 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Selbyville, DE 19975 83%368$88,568$462,700$280 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · younger residents
Flagler Beach, FL 32136 82%341$78,818$471,000$280 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · younger residents
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 82%1,181$91,452$483,200$281 pricier homes ($71K more) · younger residents
Pawleys Island, SC 29585 81%46$81,946$463,400$273 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · younger residents
Punta Gorda, FL 33950 79%525$76,369$433,800$246 larger · 8 min longer commute
Punta Gorda, FL 33955 79%529$76,943$376,200$188 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Nokomis, FL 34275 78%521$89,369$473,400$250 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440 78%577$74,818$297,100$317 cheaper homes ($115K less) · younger residents · older homes
Tubac, AZ 85646 78%1,889$73,438$491,300$237 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Fort Myers, FL 33912 77%547$103,194$409,100$200 larger · younger residents
Rotonda West, FL 33947 77%533$80,091$403,100$206 larger · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Naples, FL 34114 77%574$89,334$538,000$320 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger
Crossville, TN 38558 77%388$72,819$357,700$207 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Egg Harbor, WI 54209 77%898$77,188$386,700$335 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · younger residents
Sunrise Beach, MO 65079 77%849$70,024$394,800$302 more single-family homes · older homes
Dewey, AZ 86327 77%1,919$71,512$392,400$261 larger · younger residents
Frankford, DE 19945 76%370$87,638$443,100$235 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Millville, DE 19967 76%374$98,301$483,100$222 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Englewood, FL 34223 76%530$76,016$408,000$291 larger · more walkable · older homes
Wickenburg, AZ 85390 76%1,960$68,591$499,200$269 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · more single-family homes
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 75%9$71,723$413,800$273 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes

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.