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 Chapin, SC 29036

Chapin: median income $113,986, home value $410,700, $162/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chelsea, AL 35043 93%311$121,356$366,200$175 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Fayetteville, GA 30215 92%188$118,436$413,300$183 larger
Montgomery, TX 77316 92%877$124,055$431,400$173 Very close on everything we compare
Hoschton, GA 30548 91%140$111,257$460,800$195 pricier homes ($50K more)
Parrish, FL 34219 91%459$113,773$454,900$200 pricier homes ($44K more)
Palmyra, VA 22963 90%309$104,259$327,900$203 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Valrico, FL 33596 90%434$116,465$432,300$212 Very close on everything we compare
Madisonville, LA 70447 90%576$122,574$393,200$190 younger residents
Chesterfield, VA 23838 89%303$134,651$465,500$206 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Apollo Beach, FL 33572 89%444$122,130$472,800$217 pricier homes ($62K more)
Bulverde, TX 78163 89%1,047$140,594$435,600$207 higher income ($27K more)
Sharpsburg, GA 30277 88%197$120,379$394,200$196 7 min shorter commute
Saint John, IN 46373 88%606$127,146$408,900$187 Very close on everything we compare
Vail, AZ 85641 88%1,701$131,164$415,100$204 younger residents
Powder Springs, GA 30127 87%193$110,904$358,700$175 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Mccordsville, IN 46055 87%473$113,784$350,700$165 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · younger residents
New Palestine, IN 46163 87%461$113,106$347,800$176 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Shorewood, IL 60404 87%633$122,171$335,800$190 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Montgomery, TX 77356 87%877$106,804$409,500$175 more apartments and townhomes
Spring Branch, TX 78070 87%1,039$115,175$516,600$221 pricier homes ($106K more)
Youngsville, NC 27596 86%208$95,940$377,600$192 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Dacula, GA 30019 86%146$116,583$440,700$168 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint Augustine, FL 32092 86%289$131,020$489,800$216 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Land O Lakes, FL 34637 86%410$115,214$434,400$188 smaller · younger residents
Elgin, IL 60124 86%666$139,982$430,900$211 higher income ($26K more) · 6 min shorter commute

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.