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.

Reset

Towns most like Arden, NC 28704

Arden: median income $81,096, home value $390,000, $273/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spokane, WA 99224 95%1,974$80,770$461,000$247 pricier homes ($71K more)
Mckinney, TX 75069 93%818$85,327$432,600$242 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Spearfish, SD 57783 92%1,285$74,844$373,300$233 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Creek, WI 53154 90%588$96,555$331,700$230 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Sioux Falls, SD 57110 90%934$88,955$396,100$206 Very close on everything we compare
Chico, CA 95973 90%2,155$92,813$489,900$313 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger
Saint Augustine, FL 32084 88%389$73,837$344,200$228 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Missoula, MT 59808 88%1,805$80,239$460,900$337 pricier homes ($71K more) · younger residents
Tyler, TX 75703 88%764$79,194$336,300$179 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Saint George, UT 84770 88%1,725$70,024$458,300$269 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37421 87%150$82,517$333,700$197 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older homes
Knoxville, TN 37923 87%92$73,699$333,000$213 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Chesapeake, VA 23320 86%362$84,305$346,400$219 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Tallahassee, FL 32311 86%362$81,243$321,600$207 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Sanford, FL 32771 86%466$77,868$371,700$213 larger
Orlando, FL 32819 86%488$98,109$489,700$278 pricier homes ($100K more)
Hermitage, TN 37076 86%233$74,663$384,400$218 larger · 7 min longer commute
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 86%642$97,051$379,500$224 larger
Beaverton, OR 97003 86%2,204$99,072$478,300$313 pricier homes ($88K more) · younger residents
Newark, DE 19702 85%472$92,446$346,100$209 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Pooler, GA 31322 85%243$91,344$312,200$180 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32246 85%362$80,963$312,900$222 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32257 85%368$75,780$339,300$200 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · older homes
Pensacola, FL 32507 85%448$73,540$318,200$242 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older homes
Canal Winchester, OH 43110 85%302$77,442$304,200$191 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger

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.