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.

Reset

Towns most like Asheville, NC 28801

Asheville: median income $58,438, home value $548,100, $411/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sacramento, CA 95817 82%2,138$64,212$543,900$457 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85003 81%1,681$60,461$616,800$389 pricier homes ($69K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Vancouver, WA 98660 81%2,190$67,344$469,600$329 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 8 min longer commute
Missoula, MT 59801 80%1,795$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85013 78%1,680$71,966$567,700$315 larger · 8 min longer commute
Missoula, MT 59802 74%1,795$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($86K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 72%541$73,542$637,700$514 pricier homes ($90K more) · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85014 72%1,679$66,731$476,100$298 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents
Tucson, AZ 85701 72%1,640$51,794$492,100$338 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · younger residents
Charleston, SC 29403 70%244$66,944$674,000$586 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32204 70%368$65,063$375,000$246 cheaper homes ($173K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80222 69%1,253$86,472$623,400$359 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35209 68%283$71,439$504,600$311 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55116 68%852$81,141$418,200$260 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · more homeowners
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 68%1,242$61,768$456,100$318 cheaper homes ($92K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Eureka, CA 95501 68%2,266$54,137$412,300$271 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 67%1,624$83,916$779,200$375 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($231K more) · larger
Richmond, VA 23230 66%313$74,763$372,900$292 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller · younger residents
Corvallis, OR 97330 66%2,215$70,742$526,800$320 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23517 65%360$67,375$386,600$214 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller · younger residents
Miami, FL 33138 65%688$75,051$784,700$560 pricier homes ($237K more) · larger · 12 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33166 65%688$81,581$530,300$453 larger · 11 min longer commute
Duluth, MN 55802 65%916$51,544$494,400$439 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80223 65%1,257$79,151$539,900$355 younger residents · 11 min longer commute
Boise, ID 83702 65%1,861$85,733$777,100$469 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($229K more) · larger

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.