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 Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Gulf Shores: median income $79,639, home value $383,500, $317/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Panama City Beach, FL 32413 92%110$80,039$441,300$334 pricier homes ($58K more) · more walkable
Naples, FL 34104 92%464$71,686$375,700$272 Very close on everything we compare
Naples, FL 34113 91%470$81,674$480,000$323 pricier homes ($97K more) · older residents
Hardeeville, SC 29927 88%418$72,821$428,700$267 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Sarasota, FL 34243 88%373$81,219$429,400$238 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Lake Ozark, MO 65049 86%615$86,453$362,800$239 smaller · older homes
Panama City, FL 32408 85%122$80,822$382,300$316 more walkable
Oldsmar, FL 34677 85%343$93,474$387,300$249 older homes
Mesa, AZ 85209 85%1,415$84,432$402,900$253 larger
Sterling Heights, MI 48314 84%892$85,889$331,500$182 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Seabrook, NH 03874 83%1,275$82,995$446,100$351 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · older homes
Saco, ME 04072 83%1,319$92,241$413,100$329 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents · older homes
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 83%565$71,447$305,700$235 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older residents
Jensen Beach, FL 34957 83%502$70,403$416,700$330 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Mechanicville, NY 12118 82%1,167$92,710$345,800$267 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents · older homes
Palm Harbor, FL 34684 82%339$72,145$342,400$253 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · older homes
Montrose, CO 81401 82%1,276$71,286$374,300$280 more single-family homes
Spokane, WA 99224 82%1,980$80,770$461,000$247 pricier homes ($78K more) · younger residents
Morehead City, NC 28557 81%711$68,528$362,800$249 more single-family homes · older homes
Arden, NC 28704 81%469$81,096$390,000$273 younger residents · more renters
Saint Augustine, FL 32084 81%383$73,837$344,200$228 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · younger residents
Palm Harbor, FL 34685 81%340$94,688$518,000$251 pricier homes ($135K more) · 5 min longer commute
Grand Junction, CO 81506 81%1,325$78,651$448,300$263 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Mount Joy, PA 17552 80%929$97,683$292,500$212 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents
Banner Elk, NC 28604 80%532$76,319$383,800$327 smaller · more single-family homes · older homes

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.