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 Melbourne, FL 32934

Melbourne: median income $104,369, home value $416,100, $241/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mesa, AZ 85215 95%1,870$98,831$441,000$278 Very close on everything we compare
Berlin, MD 21811 93%774$90,082$388,900$265 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Seneca, SC 29672 93%477$90,650$482,100$271 pricier homes ($66K more)
Muskego, WI 53150 91%1,101$109,276$416,400$250 younger residents
Clarence, NY 14031 90%1,033$103,750$343,700$249 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Milton, DE 19968 89%798$87,163$437,000$240 newer homes
Fairview, NC 28730 88%520$102,900$433,300$267 smaller · less walkable
Barnegat, NJ 08005 87%884$93,584$395,800$267 5 min longer commute
Greensboro, GA 30642 87%403$95,527$496,400$262 pricier homes ($80K more)
Chandler, AZ 85248 87%1,877$94,495$527,800$275 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Lenoir City, TN 37772 86%567$100,711$429,800$234 younger residents
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 86%1,648$84,270$486,000$342 pricier homes ($70K more)
Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 86%1,779$91,654$327,000$193 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Mills River, NC 28759 85%513$107,609$444,300$274 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · younger residents
Fairhope, AL 36532 85%462$89,694$432,600$230 larger
Loudon, TN 37774 85%566$87,718$365,100$253 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Waterford, WI 53185 85%1,094$103,225$384,600$246 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 6 min longer commute
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 84%420$90,684$463,200$244 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · older residents
Weaverville, NC 28787 84%535$78,604$401,700$266 lower income ($26K less)
Hendersonville, NC 28791 84%510$78,827$370,700$236 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($45K less)
Canfield, OH 44406 84%891$98,693$286,400$174 cheaper homes ($130K less) · younger residents
Brighton, MI 48116 84%1,010$106,763$385,900$216 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Spring Lake, MI 49456 84%1,078$92,672$340,200$248 cheaper homes ($76K less) · younger residents
Harbor Springs, MI 49740 84%1,224$89,250$363,500$312 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Lodi, WI 53555 84%1,159$119,305$392,200$209 smaller · 6 min longer commute

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.