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 Alpharetta, GA 30009

Alpharetta: median income $126,510, home value $640,500, $317/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lone Tree, CO 80124 93%1,197$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($133K more)
Ellicott City, MD 21043 89%548$148,125$620,900$272 larger
Cary, NC 27518 89%333$123,488$632,200$257 Very close on everything we compare
Glen Mills, PA 19342 88%630$132,688$594,000$276 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Annapolis, MD 21401 88%548$123,381$601,400$331 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older homes
Franklin, TN 37067 88%188$111,759$756,300$313 pricier homes ($116K more)
Plano, TX 75093 88%722$124,563$670,500$259 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Littleton, CO 80129 88%1,203$141,667$663,800$266 more single-family homes
Cornelius, NC 28031 87%217$113,368$547,400$295 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Charlotte, NC 28277 87%209$128,627$560,600$269 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 87%598$117,373$573,800$350 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33626 87%428$127,118$577,100$289 cheaper homes ($63K less) · less walkable
Lafayette, CO 80026 87%1,214$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Exton, PA 19341 86%630$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($131K less) · younger residents · more renters
Cary, NC 27513 86%334$121,989$519,800$258 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 86%326$128,683$608,100$284 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Glenview, IL 60026 86%584$137,778$694,200$346 pricier homes ($54K more) · more walkable
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 86%597$124,468$416,700$241 cheaper homes ($224K less)
Austin, TX 78749 86%835$111,079$585,200$297 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 85%523$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · older homes
Columbia, MD 21044 85%543$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · older homes
Fairfax, VA 22033 85%507$143,454$648,800$355 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Lorton, VA 22079 85%507$148,134$637,600$316 larger · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27614 85%345$128,834$577,400$231 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32836 85%424$111,987$677,800$307 pricier homes ($37K more) · 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.