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 Decatur, GA 30033

Decatur: median income $111,616, home value $455,300, $265/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 92%687$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Naperville, IL 60563 92%590$109,783$435,600$271 Very close on everything we compare
Voorhees, NJ 08043 89%662$105,473$429,700$242 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Columbia, MD 21045 89%556$118,563$453,700$255 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75248 89%724$100,414$576,100$254 pricier homes ($121K more)
Phoenixville, PA 19460 88%650$124,050$455,900$251 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, MD 21046 88%554$127,813$479,500$252 smaller
Cary, NC 27511 88%340$107,860$456,000$286 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, MD 21044 87%555$135,057$566,500$250 pricier homes ($111K more)
Madison, WI 53711 87%696$100,735$424,600$260 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33609 86%419$115,844$605,600$361 pricier homes ($150K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Ann Arbor, MI 48103 86%586$116,194$471,700$288 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Lisle, IL 60532 86%589$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($69K less) · less walkable
South Burlington, VT 05403 85%944$105,616$442,400$281 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Cary, NC 27513 85%340$121,989$519,800$258 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · newer homes
Raleigh, NC 27615 85%351$112,754$479,000$241 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28210 85%215$100,824$531,700$315 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55416 85%908$105,958$461,500$272 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 85%605$99,743$390,000$261 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Wheaton, IL 60187 85%595$119,769$433,700$321 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75244 85%726$120,286$617,800$322 pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller
West Chester, PA 19380 84%641$122,899$564,400$278 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · older residents
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 84%655$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Charlotte, NC 28226 84%216$118,606$617,600$282 pricier homes ($162K more) · less walkable
Maitland, FL 32751 84%398$95,387$453,700$291 Very close on everything we compare

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.