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 Stuart, FL 34997

Stuart: median income $78,136, home value $378,900, $257/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Millsboro, DE 19966 87%846$78,305$317,500$193 cheaper homes ($61K less) · newer homes
Apache Junction, AZ 85119 87%1,909$71,585$265,000$272 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller
Quakertown, PA 18951 84%960$98,268$363,200$225 younger residents
Winchester, VA 22603 84%846$75,104$349,600$205 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Sterling Heights, MI 48314 84%1,081$85,889$331,500$182 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · younger residents
Utica, MI 48315 83%1,084$100,684$378,700$187 smaller
West Bend, WI 53095 82%1,210$80,830$305,400$207 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · younger residents
Mesa, AZ 85208 82%1,917$69,390$286,200$251 cheaper homes ($93K less) · younger residents
Sonora, CA 95370 82%2,433$82,990$448,400$255 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Carlisle, PA 17015 81%917$86,981$297,500$189 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · younger residents
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 81%454$71,447$305,700$235 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
North Royalton, OH 44133 81%984$83,717$292,500$184 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller · younger residents
Harrison Township, MI 48045 81%1,077$80,366$262,400$193 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller · younger residents
Surprise, AZ 85374 81%1,958$81,201$395,400$232 more single-family homes · newer homes
Berlin, MD 21811 80%827$90,082$388,900$265 smaller · more single-family homes
Maryville, TN 37801 80%633$73,508$320,100$225 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · younger residents
Mesa, AZ 85209 80%1,917$84,432$402,900$253 younger residents · more walkable · newer homes
Randallstown, MD 21133 79%868$80,480$322,800$194 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents · more renters
Easton, MD 21601 79%839$83,680$376,400$232 smaller · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Weaverville, NC 28787 79%608$78,604$401,700$266 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Hardeeville, SC 29927 79%358$72,821$428,700$267 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · newer homes
Eatonton, GA 31024 79%466$65,971$237,000$223 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller · younger residents
Gulf Shores, AL 36542 79%506$79,639$383,500$317 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Dandridge, TN 37725 79%641$68,385$261,500$233 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller
Rockport, TX 78382 79%1,033$75,135$270,900$253 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · 5 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.