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 Beach, FL 32951

Melbourne Beach: median income $98,420, home value $567,300, $354/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 92%803$102,146$608,800$339 pricier homes ($42K more)
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 91%1,883$112,795$623,400$336 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Kennebunk, ME 04043 89%1,198$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($80K less) · younger residents
Emerald Isle, NC 28594 89%504$89,773$603,700$474 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Mashpee, MA 02649 87%1,097$95,299$562,200$420 younger residents
Ocean View, DE 19970 86%793$94,103$526,600$266 cheaper homes ($41K less) · newer homes
Santa Fe, NM 87506 86%1,581$96,511$611,800$464 pricier homes ($45K more) · younger residents
Pawleys Island, SC 29585 85%384$81,946$463,400$273 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 85%227$108,632$571,100$344 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 85%1,088$91,452$483,200$281 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 84%289$97,948$639,400$351 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Tybee Island, GA 31328 84%276$109,631$619,800$427 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Wells, ME 04090 83%1,193$88,024$485,300$380 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents
Lewes, DE 19958 83%802$97,197$534,600$266 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · newer homes
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 83%2,153$107,364$807,200$380 pricier homes ($240K more) · larger · more walkable
Brewster, MA 02631 82%1,117$102,132$700,500$488 pricier homes ($133K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 82%1,110$110,450$607,900$424 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Tucson, AZ 85750 82%1,828$102,836$585,300$281 larger · younger residents
Hampton, NH 03842 81%1,165$95,422$548,500$423 younger residents
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 81%424$90,684$463,200$244 cheaper homes ($104K less) · newer homes
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 80%962$117,959$539,000$431 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Rhinebeck, NY 12572 79%1,031$94,859$483,100$472 cheaper homes ($84K less) · older homes
Edisto Island, SC 29438 79%313$86,979$642,400$452 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Seneca, SC 29672 79%488$90,650$482,100$271 cheaper homes ($85K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Galveston, TX 77554 79%878$86,490$466,800$340 cheaper homes ($101K less) · younger residents · 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.