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 Sarasota, FL 34241

Sarasota: median income $116,412, home value $564,600, $267/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Austin, TX 78734 92%963$130,784$677,300$274 pricier homes ($113K more)
Johns Island, SC 29455 91%405$121,372$590,800$330 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Tucson, AZ 85749 91%1,729$109,219$590,400$282 pricier homes ($26K more)
Pittsboro, NC 27312 90%617$103,104$467,900$274 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Tucson, AZ 85737 90%1,741$107,348$469,500$246 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more renters
Santa Fe, NM 87508 89%1,494$101,565$561,200$335 Very close on everything we compare
Stevensville, MD 21666 88%878$123,645$494,300$278 cheaper homes ($70K less) · younger residents
Fairview, NC 28730 88%570$102,900$433,300$267 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller
Corrales, NM 87048 88%1,526$102,004$574,000$319 smaller
Farmingdale, NJ 07727 87%1,009$129,931$652,400$365 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller · younger residents
Brighton, MI 48116 87%1,057$106,763$385,900$216 cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger
Muskego, WI 53150 87%1,126$109,276$416,400$250 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger
Lemont, IL 60439 87%1,045$121,724$480,800$264 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Woodland Park, CO 80863 87%1,533$104,779$572,100$261 younger residents
Cranston, RI 02921 86%1,175$147,204$535,800$293 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Hampstead, NH 03841 86%1,249$104,044$510,100$307 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Suffield, CT 06078 86%1,156$116,054$412,400$255 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller · younger residents
Gibsonia, PA 15044 86%933$136,723$385,200$231 cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger
Denver, NC 28037 86%573$111,703$491,900$235 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · younger residents
Lenoir City, TN 37772 86%597$100,711$429,800$234 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 86%1,807$129,083$741,700$355 pricier homes ($177K more) · larger
Marana, AZ 85658 86%1,752$123,415$478,400$238 cheaper homes ($86K less) · newer homes
Kingston, WA 98346 86%2,573$114,779$612,800$348 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Goffstown, NH 03045 85%1,246$119,205$384,600$294 cheaper homes ($180K less) · younger residents
Kennebunk, ME 04043 85%1,295$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($77K less)

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.