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 Charleston, SC 29403

Charleston: median income $66,944, home value $674,000, $586/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Durham, NC 27701 80%229$69,740$508,900$346 cheaper homes ($165K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 79%1,838$52,199$548,700$364 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 79%1,839$83,916$779,200$375 pricier homes ($105K more) · older residents
Sacramento, CA 95817 77%2,343$64,212$543,900$457 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43212 76%526$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Sacramento, CA 95816 76%2,344$90,839$839,700$504 pricier homes ($166K more) · older residents · older homes
Burlington, VT 05401 75%885$65,657$492,100$360 cheaper homes ($182K less) · older homes
Richmond, VA 23220 75%357$61,381$473,100$318 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · older homes
Austin, TX 78751 75%1,059$80,915$852,000$470 pricier homes ($178K more) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80246 75%1,466$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Missoula, MT 59801 74%2,030$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($232K less)
Boulder, CO 80302 74%1,488$61,698$1,190,800$604 pricier homes ($517K more) · younger residents
Denver, CO 80218 73%1,468$81,706$676,700$398 older residents · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
San Diego, CA 92104 73%2,148$94,014$914,700$761 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($241K more) · larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 72%686$64,231$491,200$393 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · younger residents
Fort Collins, CO 80521 72%1,487$58,082$564,900$378 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85003 72%1,852$60,461$616,800$389 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · older residents
Portland, OR 97232 72%2,417$70,895$781,200$326 pricier homes ($107K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Boulder, CO 80303 71%1,486$78,555$961,900$467 pricier homes ($288K more) · newer homes
Asheville, NC 28801 70%244$58,438$548,100$411 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85012 70%1,851$86,620$735,000$370 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · older residents
San Diego, CA 92115 70%2,145$79,199$799,200$585 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92116 70%2,148$98,154$940,700$925 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($267K more) · older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22903 69%371$69,340$526,200$304 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger · less walkable
Birmingham, AL 35209 69%399$71,439$504,600$311 cheaper homes ($169K less) · more homeowners · less walkable

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.