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 Mason, OH 45040

Mason: median income $133,240, home value $440,000, $209/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40245 96%97$122,948$445,300$182 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Mill, SC 29708 95%348$132,018$515,200$226 pricier homes ($75K more)
Birmingham, AL 35242 95%432$117,047$477,700$198 pricier homes ($38K more)
Collierville, TN 38017 95%418$138,677$495,200$180 pricier homes ($55K more)
Canton, MI 48188 94%209$122,781$384,700$192 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Round Rock, TX 78681 94%970$137,819$497,300$223 pricier homes ($57K more)
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 93%241$124,189$420,000$231 smaller
Downingtown, PA 19335 93%459$143,249$494,100$234 pricier homes ($54K more)
Maple Grove, MN 55311 93%612$153,568$487,300$192 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Plano, TX 75025 93%815$143,260$486,100$206 pricier homes ($46K more)
Birmingham, AL 35244 92%436$113,450$412,000$176 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 91%392$113,720$372,900$192 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Apex, NC 27502 91%390$143,922$550,900$241 pricier homes ($111K more)
Raleigh, NC 27613 91%388$123,966$520,600$249 pricier homes ($81K more)
Huntersville, NC 28078 91%331$120,831$473,900$221 pricier homes ($34K more)
Madison, AL 35758 91%346$117,380$370,300$180 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Noblesville, IN 46062 91%105$120,100$382,500$175 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Chanhassen, MN 55317 91%607$140,385$539,000$227 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller
Yorktown, VA 23693 90%453$124,433$488,400$225 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Raleigh, NC 27614 90%389$128,834$577,400$231 pricier homes ($137K more) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37922 90%241$132,807$523,800$245 pricier homes ($84K more)
Waunakee, WI 53597 90%376$117,000$493,200$243 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Lakeville, MN 55044 90%588$141,551$488,600$201 pricier homes ($49K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55123 90%589$139,215$461,200$197 smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55125 90%586$119,260$416,100$192 Very close on everything we compare

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.