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 Dallas, TX 75201

Dallas: median income $103,761, home value $688,100, $614/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98101 92%1,679$128,882$784,200$657 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($96K more)
Denver, CO 80202 90%662$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($35K more) · more homeowners
Stamford, CT 06901 88%1,401$102,641$478,700$463 cheaper homes ($209K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33132 84%1,111$109,109$524,300$550 cheaper homes ($164K less) · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33602 82%917$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90010 80%1,241$101,455$834,100$601 pricier homes ($146K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92101 80%1,181$91,566$793,100$693 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98109 79%1,680$133,663$1,034,100$649 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($346K more) · larger
San Diego, CA 92108 78%1,179$103,884$618,700$563 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98121 77%1,680$152,019$848,400$575 higher income ($48K more) · pricier homes ($160K more) · more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37203 76%615$71,281$549,000$460 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($139K less)
Irvine, CA 92612 76%1,214$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($306K more) · larger · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97209 76%1,631$80,301$587,300$343 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Charlotte, NC 28202 75%929$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($245K less) · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28203 74%928$104,696$707,800$459 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60601 74%805$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($162K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Pasadena, CA 91101 74%1,231$87,813$682,300$636 older homes
Atlanta, GA 30346 72%724$95,000$595,900$323 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98122 71%1,678$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($269K more) · larger · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55415 70%863$124,921$625,500$406 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22209 69%1,180$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($132K more) · more homeowners · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28204 69%930$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 69%998$72,735$499,300$474 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller
Santa Monica, CA 90401 69%1,251$110,385$1,149,200$1,151 pricier homes ($461K more) · smaller · older residents
San Francisco, CA 94103 69%1,480$116,438$1,022,800$857 pricier homes ($335K more) · larger · older residents

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.