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 29492

Charleston: median income $110,509, home value $791,400, $409/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orlando, FL 32836 87%330$111,987$677,800$307 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Franklin, TN 37067 87%443$111,759$756,300$313 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32827 82%326$117,483$662,200$284 cheaper homes ($129K less) · more single-family homes
Tampa, FL 33626 82%377$127,118$577,100$289 cheaper homes ($214K less)
Lone Tree, CO 80124 82%1,461$129,858$773,900$272 more walkable
Alpharetta, GA 30009 81%268$126,510$640,500$317 cheaper homes ($151K less) · more walkable · older homes
Austin, TX 78735 81%1,074$139,191$867,500$323 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($76K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85085 79%1,854$128,984$669,100$267 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Carrollton, TX 75010 77%985$107,317$484,800$241 cheaper homes ($307K less) · larger
Windermere, FL 34786 75%324$134,214$684,400$308 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Charlotte, NC 28277 74%155$128,627$560,600$269 cheaper homes ($231K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 74%474$117,373$573,800$350 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78717 74%1,064$145,325$652,200$230 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78726 74%1,070$90,885$698,100$259 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more renters
Englewood, CO 80112 74%1,463$108,874$659,200$282 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 73%210$128,683$608,100$284 cheaper homes ($183K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Destin, FL 32541 73%428$95,124$597,900$391 cheaper homes ($194K less) · older homes
Frisco, TX 75034 73%982$111,122$729,700$248 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · more renters
Bothell, WA 98011 73%2,415$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($142K more) · more walkable · older homes
Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 72%590$133,209$523,000$331 cheaper homes ($268K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Ellicott City, MD 21043 72%467$148,125$620,900$272 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($171K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30342 72%268$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · younger residents
Austin, TX 78730 72%1,071$158,673$1,014,700$360 higher income ($48K more) · pricier homes ($223K more) · smaller
Fort Collins, CO 80528 72%1,480$130,350$705,000$246 cheaper homes ($86K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
San Marcos, CA 92078 72%2,151$120,268$942,300$530 pricier homes ($151K more) · larger · more homeowners

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.