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 Saint Simons Island, GA 31522

Saint Simons Island: median income $108,632, home value $571,100, $344/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 93%627$102,146$608,800$339 pricier homes ($38K more)
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 93%76$97,948$639,400$351 pricier homes ($68K more)
Saint Augustine, FL 32080 89%99$92,531$535,800$339 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min longer commute
Estes Park, CO 80517 86%1,488$95,404$701,700$415 pricier homes ($131K more) · smaller
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 85%227$98,420$567,300$354 smaller · 9 min longer commute
Chandler, AZ 85248 85%1,782$94,495$527,800$275 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Brewster, MA 02631 84%958$102,132$700,500$488 pricier homes ($129K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Tucson, AZ 85750 83%1,729$102,836$585,300$281 5 min longer commute
Kennebunk, ME 04043 82%1,027$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · younger residents
Pinehurst, NC 28374 82%294$111,311$491,200$246 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more single-family homes
Pawleys Island, SC 29585 82%201$81,946$463,400$273 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($108K less)
Indialantic, FL 32903 82%221$104,906$533,000$307 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Osprey, FL 34229 81%288$103,657$692,700$306 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller · older residents
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 81%1,773$112,795$623,400$336 pricier homes ($52K more) · 11 min longer commute
Lewes, DE 19958 80%625$97,197$534,600$266 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 80%39$98,583$537,800$353 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Sarasota, FL 34238 80%284$97,926$574,600$255 7 min longer commute
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 80%2,042$107,364$807,200$380 pricier homes ($236K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 79%950$110,450$607,900$424 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Slingerlands, NY 12159 79%890$128,306$449,900$254 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seneca, SC 29672 79%262$90,650$482,100$271 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more single-family homes
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 79%77$124,558$792,600$386 pricier homes ($222K more) · larger · younger residents
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 79%350$115,799$616,000$491 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · younger residents
Boca Raton, FL 33496 79%341$114,885$708,300$473 pricier homes ($137K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Palm Desert, CA 92211 79%2,037$88,477$583,900$305 larger · more renters

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.