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 Charlotte, TN 37036

Charlotte: median income $73,102, home value $257,600, $248/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bruceton Mills, WV 26525 93%479$82,114$216,100$240 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Somerset, OH 43783 93%366$67,016$248,100$222 smaller
Ethel, LA 70730 93%434$64,977$254,600$212 smaller
Howard City, MI 49329 92%505$74,235$207,900$192 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Ogilvie, MN 56358 92%737$83,594$260,700$211 smaller
Shoshone, ID 83352 92%1,508$70,057$259,500$202 smaller
Amelia Court House, VA 23002 91%520$71,813$275,300$218 larger
Catawba, NC 28609 91%351$77,679$245,900$190 5 min shorter commute
Capac, MI 48014 91%523$66,800$217,900$180 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Fordland, MO 65652 91%318$78,420$239,600$181 smaller
Buckfield, ME 04220 90%1,048$79,750$222,000$188 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Conowingo, MD 21918 90%651$84,587$324,800$230 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller
Paw Paw, WV 25434 90%531$64,487$207,500$254 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Timberlake, NC 27583 90%465$71,484$279,900$214 newer homes
Sand Lake, MI 49343 90%497$80,408$244,200$244 older residents
Shiocton, WI 54170 90%575$78,889$232,100$259 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Oakboro, NC 28129 89%395$69,906$266,800$209 6 min shorter commute
Stanfield, NC 28163 89%390$72,386$313,900$195 pricier homes ($56K more)
Woodbine, GA 31569 89%487$65,915$219,200$192 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Jay, FL 32565 89%369$84,432$239,500$200 Very close on everything we compare
Brooksville, FL 34602 89%608$77,215$276,400$190 larger
Newaygo, MI 49337 89%503$67,526$202,000$198 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Blakeslee, PA 18610 88%715$67,656$239,100$180 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, DE 19960 88%675$67,200$275,700$258 7 min shorter commute
Windsor, VA 23487 88%587$74,243$290,400$223 pricier homes ($33K more) · 6 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.