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 Vero Beach, FL 32960

Vero Beach: median income $54,682, home value $280,000, $211/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roseburg, OR 97470 92%2,606$54,751$260,400$224 Very close on everything we compare
Coos Bay, OR 97420 91%2,654$61,574$311,500$224 pricier homes ($32K more)
Augusta, ME 04330 90%1,295$54,775$217,300$211 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Hendersonville, NC 28792 90%547$55,522$278,500$223 newer homes
Rapid City, SD 57701 90%1,701$56,461$251,200$211 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Galveston, TX 77551 89%883$58,344$290,600$200 younger residents
Yreka, CA 96097 88%2,559$53,059$277,600$186 smaller · more single-family homes
Waterville, ME 04901 87%1,312$57,403$204,700$181 cheaper homes ($75K less) · younger residents · older homes
Chambersburg, PA 17201 87%864$61,234$227,800$162 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Johnson City, TN 37601 87%612$50,686$216,200$185 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Kingsport, TN 37660 87%629$49,191$198,500$157 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Billings, MT 59101 87%1,980$58,598$268,700$214 larger · younger residents
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 87%1,809$61,580$228,000$175 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 86%428$50,955$299,900$224 newer homes
Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913 86%887$56,010$200,100$169 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Las Cruces, NM 88005 86%1,608$54,452$220,800$168 cheaper homes ($59K less) · younger residents
Bangor, ME 04401 85%1,349$66,932$239,900$198 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Abingdon, VA 24210 85%633$62,734$216,000$176 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Utica, MI 48317 85%1,048$72,917$265,300$186 Very close on everything we compare
Green Bay, WI 54304 85%1,239$63,865$220,600$192 cheaper homes ($59K less) · younger residents
Chicopee, MA 01020 84%1,097$66,009$280,900$244 older homes
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 84%756$66,423$280,700$196 younger residents
Washington, NC 27889 84%582$53,179$194,200$179 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Knoxville, TN 37912 84%615$47,416$210,900$221 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents
Gulfport, MS 39507 84%555$54,657$217,800$145 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents

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.