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 75220

Dallas: median income $69,843, home value $500,200, $388/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Riverside, CA 92507 91%1,181$75,303$536,900$358 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85008 90%876$66,353$358,000$288 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Everett, WA 98204 90%1,679$68,513$414,000$353 cheaper homes ($86K less) · newer homes
Concord, CA 94520 89%1,456$82,479$601,000$468 pricier homes ($101K more)
Sacramento, CA 95841 89%1,425$61,054$424,500$289 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98032 89%1,663$82,636$520,800$327 Very close on everything we compare
Lakewood, WA 98499 89%1,666$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Lowell, MA 01854 88%1,541$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85021 88%881$59,768$470,400$321 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Seattle, WA 98188 88%1,665$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 87%1,104$66,100$383,400$347 cheaper homes ($117K less)
San Diego, CA 92105 86%1,173$68,563$635,600$595 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger
San Ysidro, CA 92173 86%1,172$69,792$535,000$513 pricier homes ($35K more)
Framingham, MA 01702 85%1,529$82,496$583,000$340 pricier homes ($83K more)
Reno, NV 89502 85%1,353$65,328$413,200$310 cheaper homes ($87K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Paramount, CA 90723 85%1,229$75,250$533,700$510 pricier homes ($34K more)
National City, CA 91950 85%1,173$66,426$612,200$498 pricier homes ($112K more)
Federal Way, WA 98003 85%1,663$75,319$476,600$314 more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98409 85%1,666$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more homeowners
Vancouver, WA 98661 85%1,625$76,913$451,500$289 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Mesa, AZ 85201 84%867$67,294$328,800$252 cheaper homes ($171K less)
Gardena, CA 90247 84%1,236$77,333$659,100$453 pricier homes ($159K more) · older residents · older homes
Ontario, CA 91764 84%1,198$81,762$565,800$456 pricier homes ($66K more) · more homeowners
Sacramento, CA 95825 84%1,427$64,602$440,200$292 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Long Branch, NJ 07740 83%1,364$79,870$578,800$453 pricier homes ($79K more) · 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.