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 75205

Dallas: median income $181,631, home value $1,706,700, $693/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kirkland, WA 98033 80%1,674$182,500$1,491,700$742 cheaper homes ($215K less) · larger · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98005 75%1,671$160,849$1,519,500$613 cheaper homes ($187K less) · older residents · older homes
Redmond, WA 98052 74%1,672$163,460$1,180,600$620 cheaper homes ($526K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33146 73%1,108$131,500$1,318,200$804 lower income ($50K less) · cheaper homes ($389K less) · younger residents
Irvine, CA 92602 72%1,210$161,620$1,502,000$877 cheaper homes ($205K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Bellevue, WA 98004 71%1,673$182,545$2M+*$915 pricier homes ($293K more) · larger · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90049 68%1,251$170,607$2M+*$991 pricier homes ($293K more) · older residents · older homes
Mountain View, CA 94043 66%1,459$203,298$1,641,100$1,015 cheaper homes ($66K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Sunnyvale, CA 94085 65%1,456$192,417$1,534,400$906 cheaper homes ($172K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
San Diego, CA 92130 64%1,184$205,680$1,748,100$883 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 62%1,541$169,104$1,339,100$622 cheaper homes ($368K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Irvine, CA 92606 62%1,215$135,598$1,141,100$788 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($566K less) · more renters
Irvine, CA 92620 62%1,211$146,942$1,267,800$801 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($439K less) · larger
Tustin, CA 92782 62%1,213$146,080$1,149,200$700 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($558K less) · older residents
Santa Clara, CA 95054 61%1,453$207,895$1,493,100$922 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($214K less) · 5 min longer commute
La Jolla, CA 92037 60%1,186$147,230$1,958,700$1,039 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($252K more) · larger
Santa Clara, CA 95051 60%1,454$196,690$1,680,600$1,278 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33606 59%917$120,729$845,600$551 lower income ($61K less) · cheaper homes ($861K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 59%1,246$160,236$1,242,700$783 cheaper homes ($464K less) · larger · older residents
Carlsbad, CA 92011 58%1,187$159,235$1,302,600$770 cheaper homes ($404K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Irvine, CA 92618 58%1,208$145,731$1,283,800$723 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($423K less) · larger
Sunnyvale, CA 94087 58%1,457$207,742$2M+*$1,416 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($293K more) · larger
San Mateo, CA 94404 58%1,471$192,332$1,714,400$916 older residents · 11 min longer commute · less walkable
Milpitas, CA 95035 58%1,450$178,654$1,253,200$777 cheaper homes ($454K less) · larger · older residents
Denver, CO 80209 57%658$125,733$1,018,300$513 lower income ($56K less) · cheaper homes ($688K less) · older residents

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.