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 34242

Sarasota: median income $115,967, home value $1,046,100, $643/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walnut Creek, CA 94595 75%2,396$100,552$860,600$501 cheaper homes ($186K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750 72%1,027$150,188$995,000$636 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Ocean City, NJ 08226 67%948$101,782$840,500$816 cheaper homes ($206K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Sea Isle City, NJ 08243 66%938$108,359$1,087,300$934 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · newer homes
Somers, NY 10589 64%1,094$129,214$574,400$427 cheaper homes ($472K less) · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Margate City, NJ 08402 59%953$121,800$708,800$745 cheaper homes ($337K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Spring Lake, NJ 07762 56%1,015$116,295$927,700$705 cheaper homes ($118K less) · younger residents · more renters
Bethany Beach, DE 19930 55%891$125,491$887,400$529 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Essex, CT 06426 53%1,131$103,705$729,200$433 cheaper homes ($317K less) · smaller · younger residents
Brigantine, NJ 08203 53%962$97,250$524,800$496 cheaper homes ($521K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Bayside, NY 11360 52%1,059$98,875$685,700$542 cheaper homes ($360K less) · larger · younger residents
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 52%2,057$107,364$807,200$380 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Little Neck, NY 11363 51%1,060$125,015$1,053,800$697 younger residents · 5 min longer commute · more renters
Oak Brook, IL 60523 51%1,053$118,194$782,100$282 cheaper homes ($264K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85258 51%1,796$114,111$846,000$462 cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger · younger residents
Seal Beach, CA 90740 51%2,152$85,347$484,100$453 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($562K less) · larger
Hartsdale, NY 10530 50%1,073$121,722$464,900$356 cheaper homes ($581K less) · larger · younger residents
Newburyport, MA 01950 49%1,258$139,625$834,000$552 cheaper homes ($212K less) · larger · younger residents
Floral Park, NY 11005 49%1,059$89,931$622,400$450 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($424K less) · smaller
Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 49%618$91,488$565,400$456 cheaper homes ($481K less) · smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Little Neck, NY 11362 48%1,059$122,090$530,800$601 cheaper homes ($515K less) · larger · younger residents
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 48%356$97,576$797,700$489 cheaper homes ($248K less) · larger · 17 min shorter commute
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 47%1,057$117,959$539,000$431 cheaper homes ($507K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Lambertville, NJ 08530 47%1,005$120,467$574,800$392 cheaper homes ($471K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Emerald Isle, NC 28594 47%607$89,773$603,700$474 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($442K less) · smaller

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.