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 Pawleys Island, SC 29585

Pawleys Island: median income $81,946, home value $463,400, $273/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lewes, DE 19958 92%427$97,197$534,600$266 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 92%51$90,684$463,200$244 smaller
Nokomis, FL 34275 92%479$89,369$473,400$250 Very close on everything we compare
Ocean View, DE 19970 90%419$94,103$526,600$266 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Boynton Beach, FL 33437 90%482$80,710$424,200$228 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 89%1,143$91,452$483,200$281 smaller
Selbyville, DE 19975 88%412$88,568$462,700$280 smaller
Southport, NC 28461 88%72$82,692$428,600$247 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min longer commute
Chandler, AZ 85248 88%1,881$94,495$527,800$275 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 86%429$102,146$608,800$339 pricier homes ($145K more)
Saint Augustine, FL 32080 86%282$92,531$535,800$339 pricier homes ($72K more)
Flagler Beach, FL 32136 86%299$78,818$471,000$280 smaller
Boynton Beach, FL 33472 86%482$101,959$446,200$256 Very close on everything we compare
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 85%384$98,420$567,300$354 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller
Sarasota, FL 34238 85%473$97,926$574,600$255 pricier homes ($111K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Prescott, AZ 86305 85%1,928$80,436$655,600$323 pricier homes ($192K more) · more single-family homes
Fort Myers, FL 33912 84%507$103,194$409,100$200 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Venice, FL 34292 84%480$80,101$452,100$212 older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89134 84%2,048$83,688$472,900$299 more single-family homes
Sequim, WA 98382 84%2,473$74,189$493,900$308 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 83%236$98,583$537,800$353 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · younger residents
Palm Desert, CA 92211 83%2,129$88,477$583,900$305 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · more renters
Berlin, MD 21811 82%404$90,082$388,900$265 cheaper homes ($75K less) · younger residents
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 82%201$108,632$571,100$344 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($108K more)
Delray Beach, FL 33446 82%487$80,187$460,800$257 larger · older residents · 6 min longer 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.