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 Plano, TX 75093

Plano: median income $124,563, home value $670,500, $259/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cary, NC 27513 94%1,042$121,989$519,800$258 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Lafayette, CO 80026 94%666$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($35K more)
Charlotte, NC 28226 90%924$118,606$617,600$282 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Littleton, CO 80129 90%641$141,667$663,800$266 smaller
Cary, NC 27518 89%1,043$123,488$632,200$257 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30338 89%721$135,148$611,300$249 cheaper homes ($59K less) · younger residents
Charlotte, NC 28277 88%924$128,627$560,600$269 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · less walkable
Alpharetta, GA 30009 88%722$126,510$640,500$317 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Englewood, CO 80111 88%640$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($246K more) · smaller
Longmont, CO 80503 88%676$113,620$755,500$282 pricier homes ($85K more)
Cornelius, NC 28031 87%923$113,368$547,400$295 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27615 86%1,051$112,754$479,000$241 cheaper homes ($192K less) · more homeowners
Dublin, OH 43017 86%901$135,922$523,500$226 cheaper homes ($147K less) · less walkable
Lone Tree, CO 80124 86%637$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 86%1,620$130,603$837,100$364 pricier homes ($167K more) · smaller · older homes
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 85%1,031$128,683$608,100$284 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28211 85%926$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($104K more)
Decatur, GA 30030 85%722$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older homes
West Chester, PA 19380 84%1,267$122,899$564,400$278 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 84%1,166$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($45K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Annapolis, MD 21401 84%1,201$123,381$601,400$331 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Carmel, IN 46032 84%761$132,085$496,800$218 cheaper homes ($174K less) · less walkable
Louisville, CO 80027 84%667$154,232$890,200$358 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($220K more)
Henrico, VA 23233 83%1,134$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller · less walkable
Raleigh, NC 27614 83%1,051$128,834$577,400$231 cheaper homes ($93K less) · less walkable

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.