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 Atlanta, GA 30326

Atlanta: median income $121,984, home value $448,000, $323/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60661 86%583$125,741$392,900$407 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more walkable
Dallas, TX 75219 81%722$102,364$388,600$304 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · more walkable
Charlotte, NC 28204 80%222$92,054$585,200$326 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($137K more)
Chicago, IL 60605 80%582$123,922$453,200$334 larger · more walkable
Chicago, IL 60601 79%583$121,458$526,200$494 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · more walkable
Chicago, IL 60642 78%585$143,175$593,600$385 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger · more walkable
Reston, VA 20190 76%526$134,746$581,400$402 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger · older residents
Orlando, FL 32814 76%406$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($306K more) · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55401 76%903$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more walkable
Chicago, IL 60606 76%583$128,609$416,400$334 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60607 76%583$127,732$499,700$417 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · more walkable
Charlotte, NC 28202 73%222$105,889$443,500$361 larger · more walkable
Schaumburg, IL 60173 73%602$104,390$372,000$265 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60654 73%584$147,357$500,400$404 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Sterling, VA 20166 72%522$133,401$618,800$298 pricier homes ($171K more) · larger · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77006 72%707$106,533$614,800$275 pricier homes ($167K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55415 70%902$124,921$625,500$406 pricier homes ($178K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more walkable
Miami, FL 33132 69%611$109,109$524,300$550 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Irving, TX 75039 69%729$104,853$597,800$234 pricier homes ($150K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19123 68%661$102,106$539,500$326 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28203 68%220$104,696$707,800$459 pricier homes ($260K more) · larger · younger residents
Chicago, IL 60611 68%584$125,675$650,800$394 pricier homes ($203K more) · larger · more walkable
Houston, TX 77019 68%707$116,423$816,500$298 pricier homes ($369K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Stamford, CT 06901 67%774$102,641$478,700$463 pricier homes ($31K more) · more renters · more walkable
Tampa, FL 33602 67%422$97,320$653,100$431 pricier homes ($205K more) · larger

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.