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 Salem, SC 29676

Salem: median income $92,798, home value $416,800, $270/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 88%1,622$86,393$481,700$244 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Tucson, AZ 85739 86%1,610$81,711$416,700$218 larger
Dagsboro, DE 19939 85%499$89,806$420,700$245 younger residents
Boynton Beach, FL 33472 85%599$101,959$446,200$256 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Suttons Bay, MI 49682 85%712$97,813$396,500$369 younger residents
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 84%267$90,684$463,200$244 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Pinetop, AZ 85935 84%1,531$73,333$437,200$326 Very close on everything we compare
Port Ludlow, WA 98365 84%2,217$98,776$673,800$355 pricier homes ($257K more)
Mancos, CO 81328 83%1,420$72,522$412,700$293 younger residents
Tucson, AZ 85755 83%1,615$113,831$486,900$260 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Oak Island, NC 28465 82%283$86,194$479,500$428 pricier homes ($63K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Alto, NM 88312 82%1,300$80,345$304,100$297 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller
Coupeville, WA 98239 82%2,220$92,125$593,700$387 pricier homes ($177K more) · more walkable
Ocean View, DE 19970 81%504$94,103$526,600$266 pricier homes ($110K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Fairview, NC 28730 81%55$102,900$433,300$267 younger residents
Gordon, TX 76453 81%899$99,293$350,000$301 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 81%943$91,452$483,200$281 pricier homes ($66K more) · younger residents · more renters
Placitas, NM 87043 81%1,330$109,750$562,100$294 pricier homes ($145K more)
La Conner, WA 98257 81%2,216$94,425$506,200$300 pricier homes ($89K more) · more renters
Southport, NC 28461 80%288$82,692$428,600$247 larger
Rotonda West, FL 33947 80%553$80,091$403,100$206 larger
Empire, MI 49630 80%705$106,375$497,600$336 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Westcliffe, CO 81252 80%1,265$69,527$401,900$258 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Corrales, NM 87048 80%1,335$102,004$574,000$319 pricier homes ($157K more) · larger · younger residents
Freeland, WA 98249 80%2,213$99,519$627,400$404 pricier homes ($211K more) · 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.