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 Chelsea, AL 35043

Chelsea: median income $121,356, home value $366,200, $175/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Land O Lakes, FL 34637 95%427$115,214$434,400$188 pricier homes ($68K more)
Mccordsville, IN 46055 94%459$113,784$350,700$165 Very close on everything we compare
Montgomery, TX 77316 94%567$124,055$431,400$173 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Bulverde, TX 78163 94%736$140,594$435,600$207 pricier homes ($69K more)
Chapin, SC 29036 93%311$113,986$410,700$162 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Hoschton, GA 30548 93%174$111,257$460,800$195 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger
Madisonville, LA 70447 92%286$122,574$393,200$190 pricier homes ($27K more)
Vail, AZ 85641 92%1,399$131,164$415,100$204 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Palmyra, VA 22963 91%565$104,259$327,900$203 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Southaven, MS 38672 91%219$116,184$320,500$162 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Bargersville, IN 46106 91%429$120,072$471,300$178 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller
Saint John, IN 46373 91%565$127,146$408,900$187 pricier homes ($43K more)
Shorewood, IL 60404 91%574$122,171$335,800$190 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Piedmont, OK 73078 91%652$105,441$318,400$174 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Melissa, TX 75454 91%573$138,827$456,100$181 pricier homes ($90K more)
Manvel, TX 77578 91%577$134,016$377,900$178 larger
Fayetteville, GA 30215 90%126$118,436$413,300$183 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · older homes
Sharpsburg, GA 30277 90%116$120,379$394,200$196 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Braselton, GA 30517 90%175$118,034$411,200$173 pricier homes ($45K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Union, KY 41091 90%405$136,307$399,500$193 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Waxahachie, TX 75167 90%599$117,714$411,200$202 pricier homes ($45K more)
Van Alstyne, TX 75495 90%571$111,563$397,900$197 pricier homes ($32K more)
Wellington, CO 80549 90%1,133$107,614$475,900$195 pricier homes ($110K more)
Willow Spring, NC 27592 89%481$104,252$358,900$195 Very close on everything we compare
Youngsville, NC 27596 89%501$95,940$377,600$192 lower income ($25K 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.