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 Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469

Ocean Isle Beach: median income $90,684, home value $463,200, $244/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Selbyville, DE 19975 97%365$88,568$462,700$280 Very close on everything we compare
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 96%1,187$91,452$483,200$281 Very close on everything we compare
Ocean View, DE 19970 94%372$94,103$526,600$266 pricier homes ($63K more)
Boynton Beach, FL 33472 94%519$101,959$446,200$256 larger
Dagsboro, DE 19939 92%369$89,806$420,700$245 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Frankford, DE 19945 92%367$87,638$443,100$235 Very close on everything we compare
Pawleys Island, SC 29585 92%51$81,946$463,400$273 larger
Seneca, SC 29672 91%265$90,650$482,100$271 younger residents
Flagler Beach, FL 32136 91%344$78,818$471,000$280 older homes
Lewes, DE 19958 90%381$97,197$534,600$266 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Greensboro, GA 30642 90%273$95,527$496,400$262 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Nokomis, FL 34275 90%524$89,369$473,400$250 larger
Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 90%1,887$86,393$481,700$244 older residents
Rotonda West, FL 33947 88%535$80,091$403,100$206 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Milton, DE 19968 87%379$87,163$437,000$240 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Berlin, MD 21811 87%357$90,082$388,900$265 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · younger residents
Port Charlotte, FL 33953 86%526$83,070$372,900$192 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Loudon, TN 37774 86%359$87,718$365,100$253 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Cornville, AZ 86325 85%1,903$74,679$442,800$272 smaller · younger residents
Enfield, NH 03748 84%753$95,089$388,500$290 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · older homes
Salem, SC 29676 84%267$92,798$416,800$270 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Daytona Beach, FL 32124 84%365$92,616$508,000$257 pricier homes ($45K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Melbourne, FL 32934 84%420$104,369$416,100$241 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
San Antonio, FL 33576 84%446$76,388$376,400$181 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Fort Myers, FL 33912 84%550$103,194$409,100$200 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 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.