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 Richardson, TX 75081

Richardson: median income $93,165, home value $371,500, $201/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30360 90%720$97,543$425,700$227 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Lenexa, KS 66215 90%429$88,232$338,800$189 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Richland, WA 99354 90%1,508$91,933$392,600$221 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 89%1,194$94,069$418,000$247 pricier homes ($47K more)
Chandler, AZ 85224 89%877$94,516$438,700$298 pricier homes ($67K more)
Tempe, AZ 85283 89%880$84,568$442,800$298 pricier homes ($71K more)
Longmont, CO 80501 88%683$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($117K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 88%611$74,402$414,900$260 pricier homes ($43K more)
Waukesha, WI 53186 87%833$74,588$301,100$224 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55112 87%859$93,838$358,500$200 more homeowners
Overland Park, KS 66212 87%430$81,477$304,800$212 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Spokane, WA 99218 87%1,486$80,733$445,300$187 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40222 86%722$82,511$363,000$193 smaller
Englewood, CO 80110 86%654$85,900$497,300$284 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · older homes
Hamden, CT 06518 85%1,428$106,692$325,300$212 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · less walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32217 85%907$73,832$325,100$189 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Waukesha, WI 53188 85%833$92,409$348,600$237 older residents · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55118 85%848$87,340$350,600$205 older residents · more homeowners
Burnsville, MN 55337 85%837$84,110$349,100$180 more homeowners
Tempe, AZ 85282 85%880$79,036$412,000$279 pricier homes ($41K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Sacramento, CA 95826 85%1,431$82,127$463,300$320 pricier homes ($92K more)
Sacramento, CA 95833 85%1,439$97,792$464,400$302 pricier homes ($93K more)
Salem, OR 97302 85%1,628$85,833$446,400$268 pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents
Manchester, CT 06042 84%1,455$91,892$237,400$224 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23518 84%1,190$77,594$300,700$238 cheaper homes ($71K 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.