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 Chesterfield, VA 23838

Chesterfield: median income $134,651, home value $465,500, $206/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eads, TN 38028 93%687$151,389$463,600$210 smaller
Bulverde, TX 78163 93%1,304$140,594$435,600$207 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Columbus, NJ 08022 91%247$117,679$429,800$256 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Sharpsburg, GA 30277 91%480$120,379$394,200$196 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Homer Glen, IL 60491 90%624$138,571$424,700$212 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Chapin, SC 29036 89%303$113,986$410,700$162 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Oviedo, FL 32766 89%632$147,552$564,400$250 pricier homes ($99K more)
Saint John, IN 46373 89%597$127,146$408,900$187 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Milford, MI 48380 89%483$131,979$447,000$202 smaller
Parrish, FL 34219 88%730$113,773$454,900$200 larger
Fisherville, KY 40023 88%430$144,635$497,800$184 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Vail, AZ 85641 88%1,905$131,164$415,100$204 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger residents
Pinckney, MI 48169 87%486$109,329$373,400$236 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($92K less)
Oxford, CT 06478 86%371$128,953$472,400$285 older homes
Summerfield, NC 27358 86%146$138,717$444,400$205 8 min shorter commute
Valrico, FL 33596 86%705$116,465$432,300$212 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more renters
Chelsea, AL 35043 86%580$121,356$366,200$175 cheaper homes ($99K less) · younger residents
Elgin, IL 60124 86%656$139,982$430,900$211 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more walkable
Greenwood, MO 64034 86%910$120,041$350,900$194 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Spring Branch, TX 78070 86%1,295$115,175$516,600$221 pricier homes ($51K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Madera, CA 93636 86%2,307$133,274$542,100$268 pricier homes ($77K more) · younger residents
Glenn Dale, MD 20769 85%122$139,773$580,500$214 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller
Fayetteville, GA 30215 85%472$118,436$413,300$183 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · younger residents
Hoschton, GA 30548 85%411$111,257$460,800$195 Very close on everything we compare
New Palestine, IN 46163 85%476$113,106$347,800$176 cheaper homes ($118K less)

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.