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 Lauderdale, FL 33313

Fort Lauderdale: median income $46,305, home value $256,100, $169/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Haven, CT 06513 91%1,128$48,500$235,500$210 smaller
Glendale, AZ 85301 89%1,974$53,827$255,300$196 younger residents
Houston, TX 77074 88%965$47,810$213,000$141 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · more renters
Las Vegas, NV 89121 86%2,162$55,758$308,500$215 pricier homes ($52K more)
Charlotte, NC 28212 84%626$52,723$266,900$195 more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77099 83%969$49,396$198,900$122 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more single-family homes
Brooklyn, MD 21225 82%927$54,020$229,000$187 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older homes
Trenton, NJ 08618 81%1,022$50,390$227,000$186 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Norcross, GA 30093 81%586$48,404$265,700$178 more renters · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43213 81%967$54,704$211,700$163 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77092 81%965$58,728$242,900$200 smaller
Waterbury, CT 06704 80%1,142$48,718$192,000$205 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77072 80%970$51,070$187,800$114 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more single-family homes
Pasadena, TX 77504 80%945$51,478$227,400$146 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · less walkable
Las Vegas, NV 89104 80%2,163$52,228$325,500$256 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Charleston, SC 29406 79%469$49,815$229,300$209 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · newer homes
Irving, TX 75061 79%1,107$63,798$257,800$181 more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77061 79%951$45,115$224,400$95 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Waterbury, CT 06705 78%1,141$53,954$202,400$198 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Richmond, VA 23224 78%800$50,475$207,500$217 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Phoenix, AZ 85015 78%1,970$54,874$345,000$247 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller
Bridgeport, CT 06610 77%1,115$51,634$228,300$219 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · older residents
Madison, TN 37115 77%797$54,566$307,500$220 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Indianapolis, IN 46227 77%995$53,629$210,000$127 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53225 77%1,252$56,545$188,400$163 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter 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.