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 Port Aransas, TX 78373

Port Aransas: median income $91,106, home value $599,400, $392/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carolina Beach, NC 28428 77%1,216$93,241$572,700$417 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Missoula, MT 59804 75%1,610$76,266$588,400$351 larger · younger residents · older homes
Panama City Beach, FL 32413 74%698$80,039$441,300$334 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · less walkable
Port Hadlock, WA 98339 74%1,961$77,778$409,800$350 cheaper homes ($190K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Long Beach, WA 98631 74%1,947$71,705$409,400$335 cheaper homes ($190K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Manchester Center, VT 05255 73%1,711$91,058$445,500$270 cheaper homes ($154K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Chelan, WA 98816 72%1,854$82,577$499,200$421 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · less walkable
Newport, OR 97365 71%1,887$64,363$441,700$344 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
Phoenix, OR 97535 71%1,756$66,052$418,400$264 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($181K less) · less walkable
Marathon, FL 33050 70%1,017$94,898$747,300$686 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger · less walkable
Scottsdale, AZ 85250 70%964$95,761$583,300$362 larger · older homes
Carson City, NV 89703 70%1,519$85,230$626,500$330 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Riverdale, NJ 07457 69%1,581$102,950$395,900$411 cheaper homes ($204K less) · 10 min longer commute · less walkable
Rio Grande, NJ 08242 69%1,493$93,250$318,300$221 cheaper homes ($281K less) · less walkable
Palm Springs, CA 92262 69%1,225$71,672$619,600$397 larger
Oceano, CA 93445 69%1,471$72,261$573,800$501 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents
Brigantine, NJ 08203 68%1,529$97,250$524,800$496 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · older residents
Wildwood, NJ 08260 67%1,494$79,699$469,400$508 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · older residents
Allentown, PA 18106 67%1,508$92,813$412,200$233 cheaper homes ($187K less) · larger · younger residents
Sarasota, FL 34233 67%896$75,394$411,600$226 cheaper homes ($188K less) · larger
Alviso, CA 95002 67%1,587$121,953$1,080,800— higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($481K more) · smaller
Gladstone, OR 97027 67%1,851$94,375$484,200$285 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · younger residents
Sitka, AK 99835 67%2,745$101,727$450,300$343 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · younger residents
Okoboji, IA 51355 66%1,085$72,262$421,100$340 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · less walkable
Kings Beach, CA 96143 66%1,533$69,922$795,300$622 pricier homes ($196K more) · younger residents · 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.