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 New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168

New Smyrna Beach: median income $77,083, home value $358,500, $217/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Surprise, AZ 85374 91%1,871$81,201$395,400$232 pricier homes ($37K more)
Millsboro, DE 19966 87%742$78,305$317,500$193 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Sterling Heights, MI 48314 87%946$85,889$331,500$182 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Rockport, TX 78382 87%980$75,135$270,900$253 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · younger residents
Berlin, MD 21811 86%724$90,082$388,900$265 pricier homes ($30K more)
Easton, MD 21601 85%729$83,680$376,400$232 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Winchester, VA 22603 85%725$75,104$349,600$205 smaller · younger residents
Hendersonville, NC 28739 85%444$73,582$394,900$273 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Carlisle, PA 17015 84%799$86,981$297,500$189 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Weaverville, NC 28787 84%471$78,604$401,700$266 pricier homes ($43K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Clarkesville, GA 30523 84%416$80,185$293,900$202 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Utica, MI 48315 84%950$100,684$378,700$187 younger residents
Burnet, TX 78611 84%1,043$80,938$319,300$212 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · younger residents
Boulder City, NV 89005 84%2,021$74,375$435,600$289 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Sonora, CA 95370 84%2,333$82,990$448,400$255 pricier homes ($90K more) · younger residents
Swansboro, NC 28584 83%452$87,414$339,200$221 smaller · younger residents
Foley, AL 36535 83%415$66,714$282,700$183 cheaper homes ($76K less) · younger residents
Loudon, TN 37774 83%503$87,718$365,100$253 more single-family homes
North Royalton, OH 44133 83%851$83,717$292,500$184 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents
Mesa, AZ 85215 83%1,836$98,831$441,000$278 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Little River, SC 29566 82%362$64,878$308,700$191 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 82%339$71,447$305,700$235 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Jasper, GA 30143 82%429$82,193$368,100$205 younger residents · more single-family homes
Ellijay, GA 30540 82%442$72,578$294,600$231 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Dandridge, TN 37725 82%503$68,385$261,500$233 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller

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.