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 85016

Phoenix: median income $87,850, home value $564,900, $363/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arvada, CO 80002 94%580$93,362$558,500$322 smaller
Austin, TX 78723 93%869$100,329$562,300$355 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27609 92%1,896$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Dallas, TX 75238 92%886$82,019$568,700$333 Very close on everything we compare
Denver, CO 80222 92%580$86,472$623,400$359 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76107 91%848$79,990$431,200$280 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Atlanta, GA 30341 90%1,590$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Miami, FL 33166 90%1,969$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Denver, CO 80224 90%582$86,352$604,000$274 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Beaverton, OR 97008 90%1,004$96,116$578,100$338 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 89%2,036$100,697$613,600$349 pricier homes ($49K more) · less walkable
San Antonio, TX 78209 89%846$86,514$497,000$266 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 88%2,133$96,725$616,300$447 pricier homes ($51K more) · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28210 88%1,775$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($33K less) · less walkable
Tampa, FL 33611 88%1,790$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($85K less) · less walkable
Houston, TX 77079 88%999$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($115K more)
Austin, TX 78745 88%865$86,109$504,800$291 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 88%579$89,627$609,800$331 pricier homes ($45K more) · older residents
Denver, CO 80215 88%577$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98133 88%1,120$93,662$770,300$459 pricier homes ($205K more) · 6 min longer commute
Alexandria, VA 22312 87%1,968$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($39K more) · 5 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28205 87%1,779$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Nashville, TN 37206 87%1,442$96,169$600,200$362 pricier homes ($35K more) · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75248 87%881$100,414$576,100$254 Very close on everything we compare
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 87%494$87,813$648,900$314 pricier homes ($84K more) · more homeowners

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.