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.

Reset

Towns most like Sanibel, FL 33957

Sanibel: median income $108,644, home value $957,300, $572/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bethany Beach, DE 19930 84%929$125,491$887,400$529 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 82%403$97,576$797,700$489 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Orleans, MA 02653 79%1,262$102,813$960,600$503 more single-family homes
Brewster, MA 02631 76%1,258$102,132$700,500$488 cheaper homes ($257K less) · larger · younger residents
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 76%2,103$107,364$807,200$380 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · more walkable
Ogunquit, ME 03907 75%1,328$114,259$875,700$595 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Indian Wells, CA 92210 75%2,098$162,990$1,078,200$532 higher income ($54K more) · pricier homes ($121K more)
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 73%940$102,146$608,800$339 cheaper homes ($349K less) · larger · younger residents
Emerald Isle, NC 28594 73%642$89,773$603,700$474 cheaper homes ($354K less) · smaller · younger residents
Tybee Island, GA 31328 73%391$109,631$619,800$427 cheaper homes ($338K less) · smaller · younger residents
Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 69%652$91,488$565,400$456 cheaper homes ($392K less) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 69%333$108,632$571,100$344 cheaper homes ($386K less) · larger · younger residents
Edisto Island, SC 29438 68%435$86,979$642,400$452 cheaper homes ($315K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94595 68%2,447$100,552$860,600$501 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 67%1,251$110,450$607,900$424 cheaper homes ($349K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Sedona, AZ 86351 67%1,849$81,203$738,000$432 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($219K less) · more renters
Dennis, MA 02638 66%1,253$108,726$827,900$478 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · younger residents
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448 66%2,343$137,586$1,369,100$833 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($412K more) · smaller
Folly Beach, SC 29439 64%448$137,396$1,043,200$781 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller
Chatham, MA 02633 63%1,258$85,483$946,100$690 more single-family homes
Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750 62%1,066$150,188$995,000$636 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Westhampton, NY 11977 62%1,129$151,375$1,077,200$568 higher income ($43K more) · pricier homes ($120K more) · smaller
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 62%406$97,948$639,400$351 cheaper homes ($318K less) · larger · younger residents
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 62%1,833$112,795$623,400$336 cheaper homes ($334K less) · larger · younger residents
Osterville, MA 02655 61%1,242$118,750$806,300$571 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller · 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.