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 Irving, TX 75038

Irving: median income $68,990, home value $408,000, $232/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30329 88%734$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($80K more)
Sacramento, CA 95825 84%1,421$64,602$440,200$292 pricier homes ($32K more)
Orlando, FL 32821 82%972$69,348$309,600$212 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Tempe, AZ 85281 82%864$64,538$381,000$345 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · younger residents
Charlotte, NC 28262 81%944$69,231$346,600$184 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · newer homes
Carrboro, NC 27510 80%1,040$61,837$449,700$282 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Denver, CO 80231 80%644$76,502$500,600$232 pricier homes ($93K more) · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23510 79%1,203$73,524$385,700$246 smaller · more walkable
Saint Petersburg, FL 33716 79%921$75,226$209,800$206 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80247 79%644$64,498$318,400$223 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28217 78%934$64,028$263,300$233 cheaper homes ($145K less) · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19122 77%1,306$63,676$349,800$247 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27606 77%1,061$78,371$457,900$247 pricier homes ($50K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55425 76%852$76,274$339,500$209 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Jacksonville, FL 32256 75%926$73,570$382,500$212 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more homeowners
Memphis, TN 38103 75%428$76,278$397,300$207 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Provo, UT 84606 75%958$52,811$443,600$275 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 74%1,111$66,100$383,400$347 more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55403 74%859$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · more walkable
Columbus, OH 43240 73%925$82,895$329,200$224 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller · newer homes
Madison, WI 53713 73%815$58,017$255,600$229 cheaper homes ($152K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Henrico, VA 23294 72%1,143$64,164$294,500$223 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Durham, NC 27701 72%1,052$69,740$508,900$346 pricier homes ($101K more) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Orlando, FL 32801 72%974$80,871$428,000$274 smaller · more walkable · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55408 72%858$70,326$396,100$214 more walkable · 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.