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 Tampa, FL 33626

Tampa: median income $127,118, home value $577,100, $289/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Raleigh, NC 27614 95%593$128,834$577,400$231 Very close on everything we compare
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 91%884$124,189$420,000$231 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Charlotte, NC 28277 91%495$128,627$560,600$269 larger
Duluth, GA 30097 91%423$124,890$625,100$217 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Allen, TX 75013 91%906$146,891$590,700$223 larger
Glen Mills, PA 19342 90%914$132,688$594,000$276 Very close on everything we compare
Ellicott City, MD 21043 90%843$148,125$620,900$272 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Mooresville, NC 28117 90%530$112,976$615,200$257 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Fort Mill, SC 29708 90%493$132,018$515,200$226 cheaper homes ($62K less)
New Albany, OH 43054 90%832$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Coppell, TX 75019 90%919$141,923$559,500$266 5 min shorter commute
Charlottesville, VA 22911 89%736$128,235$454,100$230 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Cornelius, NC 28031 89%523$113,368$547,400$295 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more walkable
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 88%583$128,683$608,100$284 pricier homes ($31K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Raleigh, NC 27613 88%588$123,966$520,600$249 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28270 88%501$131,667$589,500$271 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, TX 78750 88%929$121,563$601,800$299 older homes
Littleton, CO 80129 88%1,505$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($87K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85085 88%1,785$128,984$669,100$267 pricier homes ($92K more)
Laurel, MD 20723 87%833$138,113$525,400$255 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Apex, NC 27523 87%574$135,625$659,300$252 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28226 87%498$118,606$617,600$282 pricier homes ($41K more) · older homes
Alpharetta, GA 30009 87%428$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($63K more) · more walkable
Carmel, IN 46032 87%848$132,085$496,800$218 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Henrico, VA 23233 86%717$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 8 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.