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 Sapphire, NC 28774

Sapphire: median income $154,635, home value $797,900, $399/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rio Verde, AZ 85263 82%1,632$145,053$851,000$357 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · older residents
Westhampton, NY 11977 80%688$151,375$1,077,200$568 pricier homes ($279K more) · larger
Bradenton, FL 34201 80%530$124,863$670,300$271 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Genoa, NV 89411 79%2,035$121,981$1,003,200$421 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($205K more)
Cumberland Foreside, ME 04110 77%908$194,205$923,600$428 higher income ($40K more) · pricier homes ($126K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Ogunquit, ME 03907 74%871$114,259$875,700$595 lower income ($40K less) · pricier homes ($78K more) · older homes
Northport, MI 49670 74%708$116,133$559,200$483 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($239K less) · older homes
Cataumet, MA 02534 73%810$137,066$685,600$407 cheaper homes ($112K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Bethany Beach, DE 19930 73%500$125,491$887,400$529 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($90K more) · larger
Charlotte, VT 05445 72%822$144,375$695,300$377 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · younger residents
Folly Beach, SC 29439 72%242$137,396$1,043,200$781 pricier homes ($245K more) · 6 min longer commute
Belleair Beach, FL 33786 72%494$163,125$1,053,000$593 pricier homes ($255K more) · older homes
Empire, MI 49630 72%692$106,375$497,600$336 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($300K less) · 5 min longer commute
Savannah, GA 31411 70%245$137,375$804,700$308 larger · 5 min longer commute
Byfield, MA 01922 69%837$142,207$804,900$375 larger · younger residents · older homes
Osterville, MA 02655 69%819$118,750$806,300$571 lower income ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Douglas, MI 49406 69%551$102,500$497,100$426 lower income ($52K less) · cheaper homes ($301K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Scottsdale, AZ 85266 69%1,645$151,923$1,128,500$446 pricier homes ($331K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Indian Wells, CA 92210 69%1,894$162,990$1,078,200$532 pricier homes ($280K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bridgewater, CT 06752 68%687$159,365$693,000$335 cheaper homes ($105K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Greenland, NH 03840 67%852$162,837$662,800$390 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · younger residents
North Hampton, NH 03862 67%850$144,583$670,400$496 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · younger residents
Rexford, NY 12148 67%727$141,984$427,400$309 cheaper homes ($371K less) · larger · younger residents
West Tisbury, MA 02575 66%800$173,417$1,306,300— pricier homes ($508K more) · larger · younger residents
South Hero, VT 05486 66%836$126,513$544,700$237 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($253K less) · 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.