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 85017

Phoenix: median income $58,346, home value $286,700, $194/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Irving, TX 75061 86%877$63,798$257,800$181 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
North Las Vegas, NV 89030 86%252$47,937$271,600$230 older residents
Fresno, CA 93705 86%490$57,003$305,000$254 older residents
Fresno, CA 93726 86%487$55,771$294,800$240 older residents
Bakersfield, CA 93309 85%415$63,544$320,400$230 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75211 84%881$56,807$219,300$207 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · older residents
Dallas, TX 75228 84%894$62,667$282,700$214 older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76112 84%863$57,724$225,900$159 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents
Chesapeake, VA 23324 83%2,026$57,045$251,800$193 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55130 83%1,285$54,130$236,000$170 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32808 81%1,841$49,700$239,200$198 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 81%549$61,969$320,300$198 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
El Centro, CA 92243 81%206$55,057$317,900$245 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · newer homes
Bakersfield, CA 93304 81%413$50,790$240,900$238 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Fresno, CA 93703 81%486$48,737$276,600$239 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Marietta, GA 30060 80%1,580$67,510$316,000$231 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Greeley, CO 80631 80%627$54,591$336,600$209 pricier homes ($50K more) · less walkable
Colorado Springs, CO 80916 80%550$67,127$326,300$219 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents · newer homes
Salem, OR 97301 80%980$60,422$341,000$260 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents
Kennewick, WA 99336 80%953$62,527$324,400$240 pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28212 79%1,786$52,723$266,900$195 older residents · newer homes
Jacksonville, FL 32277 79%1,797$61,554$283,000$178 older residents
Sacramento, CA 95824 79%625$56,477$345,300$339 pricier homes ($59K more) · older residents
New Britain, CT 06053 78%2,205$62,645$220,800$214 cheaper homes ($66K less) · older residents
East Hartford, CT 06108 78%2,214$56,663$230,500$205 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · older residents

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.