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.

Reset

Towns most like Mesa, CO 81643

Mesa: median income $106,813, home value $605,300, $287/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henefer, UT 84033 89%221$94,038$463,700$298 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Park City, MT 59063 88%449$99,432$449,200$280 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger
Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816 87%1,918$88,971$426,700$300 cheaper homes ($179K less)
Slate Hill, NY 10973 86%1,768$117,167$410,600$267 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger
Eagleville, TN 37060 86%1,198$97,386$490,800$271 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Barnstead, NH 03218 85%1,918$112,500$346,900$335 cheaper homes ($258K less)
Chichester, NH 03258 85%1,913$108,906$410,100$271 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · older residents
Toquerville, UT 84774 85%311$97,813$563,200$277 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Sanbornton, NH 03269 84%1,902$107,083$450,000$319 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 84%1,749$116,250$571,000$312 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Woodsboro, MD 21798 83%1,638$116,607$498,400$198 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · more renters
Shenandoah Junction, WV 25442 83%1,612$111,419$393,600$200 cheaper homes ($212K less) · larger
Montverde, FL 34756 83%1,674$108,500$545,300$282 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Mountain Center, CA 92561 83%609$94,063$614,300$405 larger · 7 min longer commute
Kneeland, CA 95549 83%841$95,179$651,600$280 pricier homes ($46K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Forest Ranch, CA 95942 83%724$116,400$448,000$226 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger · older residents
Danville, NH 03819 82%1,929$112,335$436,300$296 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger
Sandy Hook, VA 23153 82%1,629$122,096$462,500$245 cheaper homes ($143K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Frenchtown, MT 59834 82%627$94,406$449,500$307 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Kila, MT 59920 82%694$86,605$722,500$346 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · older residents
Springville, CA 93265 82%621$99,350$467,700$223 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger · older residents
Smartsville, CA 95977 82%706$104,545$441,700$312 cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger
Templeton, MA 01468 81%1,884$113,427$384,500$271 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger · older residents
North Berwick, ME 03906 81%1,947$105,156$432,900$325 cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger
Lake Helen, FL 32744 81%1,683$112,599$453,700$238 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger

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.