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 Provo, UT 84606

Provo: median income $52,811, home value $443,600, $275/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eugene, OR 97401 89%642$52,022$494,100$328 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents
Wilmington, NC 28403 85%1,891$54,547$386,700$277 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Tempe, AZ 85281 85%471$64,538$381,000$345 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43201 83%1,507$43,731$440,000$272 Very close on everything we compare
Tucson, AZ 85719 83%553$42,241$304,300$266 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Dallas, TX 75240 82%964$58,320$395,100$220 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Austin, TX 78752 81%1,040$67,682$422,000$334 smaller · older residents
Gainesville, FL 32607 79%1,800$45,987$321,900$180 cheaper homes ($122K less) · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55414 77%990$51,966$440,500$233 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75287 77%960$63,741$405,600$230 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Denton, TX 76201 77%936$39,982$257,700$188 cheaper homes ($186K less)
Austin, TX 78741 77%1,044$66,741$420,100$267 older residents · newer homes
Madison, WI 53713 76%1,162$58,017$255,600$229 cheaper homes ($188K less) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75231 76%969$58,540$522,400$256 pricier homes ($79K more) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Carrboro, NC 27510 75%1,786$61,837$449,700$282 smaller · older residents
Bloomington, IN 47408 75%1,335$45,644$346,900$188 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Irving, TX 75038 75%958$68,990$408,000$232 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Tallahassee, FL 32301 74%1,677$50,942$226,700$188 cheaper homes ($217K less) · older residents
Nashville, TN 37210 74%1,377$50,284$355,600$315 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · older residents
Austin, TX 78758 74%1,038$74,381$440,200$231 older residents
Sacramento, CA 95825 74%533$64,602$440,200$292 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Arcata, CA 95521 72%654$53,114$501,000$340 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · older residents
Morgantown, WV 26505 71%1,671$45,536$278,000$170 cheaper homes ($166K less) · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75235 71%966$63,393$294,500$249 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Collins, CO 80521 71%345$58,082$564,900$378 pricier homes ($121K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes

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.