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 Palmetto, FL 34221

Palmetto: median income $77,712, home value $338,600, $206/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Schererville, IN 46375 88%1,003$93,160$315,400$171 smaller
Mesa, AZ 85209 88%1,772$84,432$402,900$253 pricier homes ($64K more)
New Baltimore, MI 48047 87%1,045$94,890$321,700$185 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85208 87%1,773$69,390$286,200$251 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Mays Landing, NJ 08330 86%937$77,167$236,600$213 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Quakertown, PA 18951 86%981$98,268$363,200$225 smaller · older homes
Sterling Heights, MI 48314 86%1,042$85,889$331,500$182 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Woodstock, IL 60098 86%1,073$91,062$276,900$185 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Toms River, NJ 08755 85%984$87,575$389,600$271 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · younger residents
Millsboro, DE 19966 85%876$78,305$317,500$193 smaller · older residents
Smyrna, DE 19977 85%905$76,826$341,000$182 smaller · younger residents
Rock Hill, SC 29732 85%521$84,937$334,000$198 Very close on everything we compare
Brunswick, OH 44212 85%948$91,441$264,000$202 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Utica, MI 48315 85%1,046$100,684$378,700$187 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Howell, MI 48843 85%1,044$94,577$348,400$201 Very close on everything we compare
Desoto, TX 75115 85%923$82,782$319,400$150 more renters
Granbury, TX 76048 85%970$70,346$246,000$177 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · less walkable
Absecon, NJ 08205 84%946$93,370$292,400$208 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Coatesville, PA 19320 84%942$90,601$330,100$209 older homes
Elkton, MD 21921 84%919$85,775$330,400$190 younger residents · more renters
Mebane, NC 27302 84%622$79,819$312,400$186 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · more renters
Summerville, SC 29485 84%401$82,987$341,600$183 younger residents
Easley, SC 29642 84%501$78,221$282,200$169 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Cleveland, GA 30528 84%492$70,873$274,000$215 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · less walkable
Maryville, TN 37801 84%570$73,508$320,100$225 smaller · less walkable

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.