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 Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

Fountain Hills: median income $112,795, home value $623,400, $336/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 92%1,776$98,583$537,800$353 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Lewes, DE 19958 91%2,055$97,197$534,600$266 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 91%1,883$98,420$567,300$354 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Mashpee, MA 02649 88%2,301$95,299$562,200$420 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · younger residents
Boynton Beach, FL 33472 87%1,940$101,959$446,200$256 cheaper homes ($177K less)
Bradenton, FL 34202 87%1,791$121,659$660,000$303 pricier homes ($37K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Santa Fe, NM 87506 87%360$96,511$611,800$464 Very close on everything we compare
Kennebunk, ME 04043 86%2,301$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · younger residents
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 86%2,061$102,146$608,800$339 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Ocean View, DE 19970 84%2,060$94,103$526,600$266 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 84%1,793$97,948$639,400$351 9 min shorter commute
Jupiter, FL 33469 84%1,933$106,265$615,700$480 smaller · older homes
Sarasota, FL 34238 84%1,791$97,926$574,600$255 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Santa Fe, NM 87508 84%356$101,565$561,200$335 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 84%270$107,364$807,200$380 pricier homes ($184K more) · more walkable
Nokomis, FL 34275 83%1,795$89,369$473,400$250 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Palm City, FL 34990 83%1,918$129,560$592,400$283 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Saint Augustine, FL 32080 82%1,803$92,531$535,800$339 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Estero, FL 33928 82%1,850$102,624$465,500$248 cheaper homes ($158K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Naples, FL 34119 82%1,860$113,391$716,400$301 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · younger residents
Sarasota, FL 34241 82%1,793$116,412$564,600$267 cheaper homes ($59K less) · younger residents
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 82%809$91,452$483,200$281 cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 81%1,904$90,684$463,200$244 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller
Greensboro, GA 30642 81%1,638$95,527$496,400$262 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 81%1,773$108,632$571,100$344 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 11 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.