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 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Fort Walton Beach: median income $65,342, home value $321,200, $251/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henrico, VA 23228 91%718$70,260$283,500$235 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Utica, MI 48317 90%867$72,917$265,300$186 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Kenosha, WI 53144 90%845$76,507$259,600$214 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Metairie, LA 70001 90%214$67,923$339,400$197 larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80917 90%1,181$72,991$387,800$200 pricier homes ($67K more) · younger residents
Somersworth, NH 03878 89%1,239$75,136$317,900$256 smaller · older homes
Middletown, CT 06457 89%1,093$79,463$295,300$235 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Ephrata, PA 17522 89%894$74,828$285,200$189 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Galveston, TX 77551 89%498$58,344$290,600$200 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Newark, DE 19713 88%887$76,493$292,600$215 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Dover, DE 19904 88%868$66,908$309,400$182 larger
Columbus, OH 43231 88%699$73,986$237,000$197 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 88%863$70,120$281,600$187 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Bedford, TX 76022 88%640$72,560$277,100$208 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Hurst, TX 76053 88%642$64,141$270,900$196 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Rochester, NH 03867 87%1,237$78,674$273,900$279 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Saint Albans, VT 05478 87%1,236$71,203$316,400$224 smaller · more single-family homes
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 87%713$66,423$280,700$196 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 6 min shorter commute
North Charleston, SC 29418 87%423$64,583$267,600$205 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Nashville, TN 37214 87%397$72,012$340,900$243 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Rapids, MI 49544 87%871$74,390$264,000$218 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53228 87%870$75,033$272,000$216 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
North Richland Hills, TX 76180 87%645$81,503$328,000$198 larger
Las Vegas, NV 89120 87%1,684$74,688$401,800$221 pricier homes ($81K more)
Albany, OR 97322 87%2,200$69,808$352,900$280 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · more 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.