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 75229

Dallas: median income $121,469, home value $631,700, $335/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 92%981$115,515$659,900$294 pricier homes ($28K more)
Henrico, VA 23229 90%1,141$107,854$485,400$303 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84124 89%985$120,408$746,600$363 pricier homes ($115K more)
Orlando, FL 32804 87%965$113,231$561,000$351 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · more walkable
Bountiful, UT 84010 87%994$102,445$526,300$235 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Boonton, NJ 07005 86%1,353$132,629$587,100$365 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98406 86%1,667$104,264$638,400$347 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Wheaton, IL 60187 85%783$119,769$433,700$321 cheaper homes ($198K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 85%1,675$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($185K more) · 6 min longer commute
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 84%1,294$137,535$471,000$264 cheaper homes ($161K less) · smaller
Arvada, CO 80004 84%662$103,659$616,700$268 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Golden, CO 80401 84%661$118,039$804,500$350 pricier homes ($173K more)
Sandy, UT 84094 84%983$106,732$528,700$264 cheaper homes ($103K less) · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 84%988$101,551$567,900$329 cheaper homes ($64K less) · more walkable
Annandale, VA 22003 83%1,171$138,794$732,400$338 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Missoula, MT 59803 83%1,319$111,925$556,000$283 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · newer homes
La Mesa, CA 91941 83%1,168$115,381$928,700$525 pricier homes ($297K more)
Columbus, OH 43085 82%914$112,517$407,100$227 cheaper homes ($225K less)
Ventura, CA 93004 82%1,285$114,012$800,900$505 pricier homes ($169K more) · newer homes
Fresno, CA 93711 82%1,327$104,176$494,200$250 cheaper homes ($138K less) · newer homes
Fair Oaks, CA 95628 82%1,420$115,803$651,400$340 older residents · 8 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97219 82%1,623$121,306$677,900$327 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Portland, OR 97223 82%1,626$106,757$600,300$312 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · newer homes
Bristol, RI 02809 81%1,525$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller · older residents
Falls Church, VA 22042 81%1,173$138,255$715,800$426 pricier homes ($84K more) · 8 min longer commute

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.