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 Deland, FL 32720

Deland: median income $68,830, home value $322,600, $197/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seaford, DE 19973 95%741$64,387$278,300$202 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Kannapolis, NC 28081 95%449$71,665$285,100$207 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Milford, DE 19963 94%762$71,108$322,500$221 smaller
Henrico, VA 23231 94%626$76,505$297,800$224 Very close on everything we compare
Elizabeth City, NC 27909 94%583$66,732$234,600$188 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Columbia, TN 38401 94%564$68,475$339,400$204 larger
Smithfield, NC 27577 93%480$62,758$260,300$170 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Knoxville, TN 37918 93%508$69,752$274,900$211 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Waterford, MI 48327 93%948$74,788$257,500$194 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Georgetown, DE 19947 92%749$71,229$322,300$196 smaller · newer homes
Elkton, MD 21921 92%796$85,775$330,400$190 Very close on everything we compare
Suffolk, VA 23434 92%599$79,877$313,500$197 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28227 92%428$77,115$349,700$218 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Dickson, TN 37055 92%601$69,821$294,600$237 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Lebanon, OR 97355 92%2,502$68,595$371,700$286 pricier homes ($49K more)
Waynesboro, PA 17268 91%772$73,161$237,000$164 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Durham, NC 27704 91%505$69,668$311,500$205 Very close on everything we compare
Concord, NC 28025 91%441$79,545$306,800$191 larger
Monroe, NC 28112 91%408$80,495$296,900$200 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Goodlettsville, TN 37072 91%594$78,123$378,100$221 pricier homes ($56K more)
Springfield, TN 37172 91%608$72,168$312,600$219 Very close on everything we compare
Portage, IN 46368 91%926$76,368$227,100$170 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Centralia, WA 98531 91%2,539$63,406$343,000$250 Very close on everything we compare
Hagerstown, MD 21742 90%763$86,288$304,800$184 Very close on everything we compare
Graham, NC 27253 90%497$62,774$235,800$176 cheaper homes ($87K less)

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.