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 Phoenix, AZ 85003

Phoenix: median income $60,461, home value $616,800, $389/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vancouver, WA 98660 88%1,012$67,344$469,600$329 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Durham, NC 27701 87%1,883$69,740$508,900$346 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Asheville, NC 28801 81%1,681$58,438$548,100$411 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 80%502$65,548$434,700$306 cheaper homes ($182K less) · larger · younger residents
Denver, CO 80214 79%583$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80246 79%586$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($100K more) · younger residents
Beaverton, OR 97005 79%1,008$78,239$504,300$299 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Montrose, CA 91020 77%357$72,125$911,200$580 pricier homes ($294K more)
Sacramento, CA 95811 77%634$80,827$761,000$400 pricier homes ($144K more)
Renton, WA 98057 77%1,104$68,552$648,800$376 pricier homes ($32K more) · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Austin, TX 78752 76%870$67,682$422,000$334 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · younger residents
Sacramento, CA 95817 76%631$64,212$543,900$457 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Portland, OR 97205 76%1,006$57,288$637,100$387 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 75%505$52,199$548,700$364 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · younger residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 75%505$52,952$440,200$399 cheaper homes ($177K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Sacramento, CA 95814 75%634$58,284$633,200$355 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97232 75%1,005$70,895$781,200$326 pricier homes ($164K more)
Sacramento, CA 95825 74%630$64,602$440,200$292 cheaper homes ($177K less) · larger · younger residents
Anchorage, AK 99501 74%2,544$70,891$379,100$265 cheaper homes ($238K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32204 73%1,790$65,063$375,000$246 cheaper homes ($242K less) · older residents · older homes
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 73%1,788$73,542$637,700$514 larger · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84107 73%498$72,108$458,300$283 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96826 73%2,905$68,296$507,200$547 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · older residents
Charleston, SC 29403 72%1,852$66,944$674,000$586 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · younger residents
West Palm Beach, FL 33401 72%1,961$67,967$473,100$469 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger · newer 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.