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 Allen, TX 75013

Allen: median income $146,891, home value $590,700, $223/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Albany, OH 43054 94%906$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28277 93%916$128,627$560,600$269 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Alpharetta, GA 30004 93%715$156,100$657,700$249 pricier homes ($67K more)
Raleigh, NC 27614 92%1,043$128,834$577,400$231 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Mill, SC 29708 91%907$132,018$515,200$226 cheaper homes ($76K less) · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33626 91%906$127,118$577,100$289 smaller
Glen Allen, VA 23059 90%1,120$157,897$593,700$238 more homeowners
Windermere, FL 34786 90%952$134,214$684,400$308 pricier homes ($94K more)
Carmel, IN 46032 90%752$132,085$496,800$218 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55129 90%838$143,795$534,900$199 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more homeowners
Apex, NC 27523 89%1,031$135,625$659,300$252 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Alpharetta, GA 30005 89%719$176,957$636,300$236 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($46K more)
Littleton, CO 80129 89%641$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80924 89%604$139,447$656,800$207 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80921 88%611$141,659$683,400$210 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller · older residents
Apex, NC 27502 87%1,031$143,922$550,900$241 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more homeowners
Cary, NC 27519 87%1,029$165,586$670,900$267 pricier homes ($80K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Duluth, GA 30097 87%724$124,890$625,100$217 pricier homes ($34K more) · 5 min longer commute
Dublin, OH 43017 87%892$135,922$523,500$226 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Lewis Center, OH 43035 87%901$154,683$456,400$210 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Aurora, CO 80016 87%633$150,492$761,700$200 pricier homes ($171K more) · more homeowners
Fort Collins, CO 80528 87%686$130,350$705,000$246 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Chandler, AZ 85286 87%875$121,758$601,900$281 lower income ($25K less)
Ellicott City, MD 21043 86%1,184$148,125$620,900$272 pricier homes ($30K more) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Broomfield, CO 80023 86%661$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($278K more) · smaller

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.