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 85018

Phoenix: median income $93,885, home value $862,000, $517/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Englewood, CO 80113 94%576$96,590$709,100$408 cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller
Boise, ID 83702 93%736$85,733$777,100$469 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96822 90%2,910$95,947$1,003,400$551 pricier homes ($141K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98125 90%1,119$99,868$874,300$489 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, TX 78757 89%863$103,860$655,900$427 cheaper homes ($206K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92111 89%304$99,644$817,700$658 cheaper homes ($44K less)
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 89%509$96,824$973,000$656 pricier homes ($111K more)
Winter Park, FL 32789 88%1,838$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Reno, NV 89509 88%601$86,126$703,700$385 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Ventura, CA 93003 88%418$103,761$816,300$535 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Woburn, MA 01801 87%2,285$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($189K less)
Miami, FL 33134 87%1,970$99,766$711,800$594 cheaper homes ($150K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98133 87%1,122$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($92K less) · 6 min longer commute
Waltham, MA 02451 86%2,280$122,335$753,000$487 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92117 86%305$103,661$981,200$819 pricier homes ($119K more)
Redlands, CA 92373 86%301$101,271$765,700$386 cheaper homes ($96K less) · less walkable
Portland, OR 97225 86%1,007$114,598$751,700$319 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Denver, CO 80220 85%582$106,054$805,400$382 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98126 85%1,111$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98144 85%1,112$96,969$901,700$489 pricier homes ($40K more) · 5 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33143 84%1,970$83,008$857,200$738 7 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37206 84%1,440$96,169$600,200$362 cheaper homes ($262K less) · younger residents
Dallas, TX 75230 84%879$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($70K more)
Denver, CO 80222 84%579$86,472$623,400$359 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller · more renters
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 84%495$87,813$648,900$314 cheaper homes ($213K less)

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.