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 Bentonville, AR 72712

Bentonville: median income $110,514, home value $471,700, $254/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Knoxville, TN 37932 91%563$119,703$463,100$223 smaller · more homeowners
Colorado Springs, CO 80920 91%604$113,036$518,400$205 pricier homes ($47K more)
Appleton, WI 54913 90%630$105,385$393,400$212 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Chaska, MN 55318 89%585$112,243$420,400$211 cheaper homes ($51K less)
North Salt Lake, UT 84054 89%1,003$101,860$505,500$265 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85024 89%1,024$106,724$471,000$303 Very close on everything we compare
Matthews, NC 28105 88%762$108,190$430,800$234 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 6 min longer commute
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 88%541$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Amarillo, TX 79119 88%444$114,432$366,000$191 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller
The Colony, TX 75056 87%271$119,682$458,200$223 larger · 7 min longer commute
Cedar Park, TX 78613 87%454$125,487$496,200$217 larger · 6 min longer commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80923 87%600$101,565$475,800$203 6 min longer commute
Meridian, ID 83642 87%1,271$96,909$533,600$280 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Oviedo, FL 32765 86%925$102,167$447,900$246 larger · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Hilliard, OH 43026 86%653$111,440$347,900$212 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Waukee, IA 50263 86%362$102,762$352,800$241 cheaper homes ($119K less)
De Pere, WI 54115 86%645$94,721$339,500$213 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 86%588$111,967$540,900$207 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Grapevine, TX 76051 86%287$111,160$489,400$258 more apartments and townhomes
Chandler, AZ 85286 86%1,020$121,758$601,900$281 pricier homes ($130K more) · 7 min longer commute
Chico, CA 95973 86%1,516$92,813$489,900$313 Very close on everything we compare
Yorktown, VA 23693 85%984$124,433$488,400$225 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Lexington, KY 40509 85%551$94,804$366,300$191 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Ankeny, IA 50023 85%372$117,826$345,100$231 cheaper homes ($127K less) · more homeowners
Baton Rouge, LA 70810 85%452$92,098$365,000$186 cheaper homes ($107K 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.