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 Beaufort, NC 28516

Beaufort: median income $66,057, home value $315,400, $270/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lakeside, AZ 85929 95%1,892$62,752$306,900$290 smaller
Minocqua, WI 54548 94%1,031$69,569$336,400$288 smaller
Llano, TX 78643 94%1,305$68,365$362,600$239 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
South Haven, MI 49090 93%740$68,920$295,000$293 older homes
Cape Charles, VA 23310 91%178$62,500$377,300$318 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Clayton, GA 30525 91%385$65,150$274,200$258 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · younger residents
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 91%899$70,212$297,300$257 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Belfast, ME 04915 89%781$66,362$308,700$271 older homes
Boyne City, MI 49712 89%847$74,033$294,800$318 Very close on everything we compare
Eagle River, WI 54521 89%1,016$74,071$305,100$257 Very close on everything we compare
Port Saint Joe, FL 32456 88%611$64,681$378,500$285 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · newer homes
Walker, MN 56484 88%1,261$67,019$311,200$272 smaller
Payson, AZ 85541 88%1,965$66,383$361,200$298 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · older residents
Paradise, CA 95969 88%2,472$69,067$455,500$287 pricier homes ($140K more)
Hiawassee, GA 30546 87%403$59,234$295,000$248 older residents · more homeowners
Rockport, TX 78382 87%1,289$75,135$270,900$253 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Chewelah, WA 99109 87%2,291$62,391$327,400$235 smaller
Blairsville, GA 30512 86%418$66,642$313,300$205 larger · more homeowners
Young Harris, GA 30582 86%411$59,360$329,900$212 smaller · younger residents
Bokeelia, FL 33922 86%648$71,164$355,800$269 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Port Clinton, OH 43452 86%579$67,490$222,000$258 cheaper homes ($93K less) · 6 min longer commute
Hayward, WI 54843 86%1,089$60,619$243,400$261 cheaper homes ($72K less) · younger residents
Park Rapids, MN 56470 86%1,273$67,500$291,100$192 younger residents
Reeds Spring, MO 65737 86%946$63,811$256,900$198 cheaper homes ($59K less) · younger residents
Show Low, AZ 85901 86%1,891$59,779$280,300$309 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 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.