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 Swansboro, NC 28584

Swansboro: median income $87,414, home value $339,200, $221/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Piney Flats, TN 37686 95%316$84,264$352,200$211 smaller
Dillsburg, PA 17019 94%373$94,423$299,300$196 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 94%1,919$91,654$327,000$193 Very close on everything we compare
Tucson, AZ 85743 94%1,958$90,093$356,300$221 larger
Washington, MI 48094 93%639$98,017$418,200$204 pricier homes ($79K more)
Somerset, WI 54025 93%1,092$86,930$386,500$198 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Burnet, TX 78611 93%1,255$80,938$319,300$212 Very close on everything we compare
Honey Brook, PA 19344 92%378$86,890$321,100$211 Very close on everything we compare
Alachua, FL 32615 92%459$85,701$297,200$172 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents
Lutz, FL 33549 92%551$89,343$385,900$248 pricier homes ($47K more)
Lindale, TX 75771 92%1,061$93,462$301,600$173 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Decatur, TX 76234 92%1,174$93,727$344,700$199 Very close on everything we compare
Carlisle, PA 17015 91%379$86,981$297,500$189 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Gordonsville, VA 22942 91%247$87,826$333,600$222 6 min longer commute
Madison, GA 30650 91%370$71,599$336,400$197 Very close on everything we compare
Port Orange, FL 32128 91%446$95,831$422,300$225 pricier homes ($83K more)
Old Hickory, TN 37138 91%544$85,149$363,000$233 larger · older homes
New Baltimore, MI 48047 91%629$94,890$321,700$185 larger
Flat Rock, MI 48134 91%610$92,076$276,100$183 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · younger residents
Hartford, WI 53027 91%846$91,150$332,500$222 larger
Slinger, WI 53086 91%843$103,426$387,100$214 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472 91%1,214$81,328$342,500$254 smaller
Raymore, MO 64083 91%998$101,667$337,400$189 larger
Louisburg, KS 66053 91%1,008$89,096$326,200$176 smaller
Rockport, TX 78382 91%1,260$75,135$270,900$253 cheaper homes ($68K less)

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.