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.

Reset

Towns most like Phoenix, AZ 85019

Phoenix: median income $68,528, home value $305,200, $226/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Garland, TX 75041 93%896$70,308$232,100$181 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Garland, TX 75042 92%894$64,266$240,200$185 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Barstow, CA 92311 92%296$61,862$246,400$217 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76114 88%854$62,073$222,600$195 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Modesto, CA 95351 88%573$58,275$343,500$309 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
North Highlands, CA 95660 88%626$68,235$356,200$348 pricier homes ($51K more)
Yuba City, CA 95991 88%653$70,590$406,800$254 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23513 87%2,028$68,380$234,000$200 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents
Joliet, IL 60432 87%1,425$64,917$193,700$177 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Irving, TX 75060 87%879$71,575$249,800$198 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89107 87%253$59,571$330,500$239 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents
Selma, CA 93662 87%473$61,564$330,500$238 pricier homes ($25K more) · newer homes
Fresno, CA 93705 87%489$57,003$305,000$254 Very close on everything we compare
Stockton, CA 95210 87%600$67,991$362,300$281 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · newer homes
Modesto, CA 95354 87%572$72,879$389,600$305 pricier homes ($84K more) · older residents
Marysville, CA 95901 87%651$69,776$381,000$264 pricier homes ($76K more) · newer homes
Chesapeake, VA 23324 86%2,027$57,045$251,800$193 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Aurora, IL 60505 86%1,418$73,284$205,100$211 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75227 86%895$64,008$217,000$160 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
Atwater, CA 95301 86%545$68,349$390,900$271 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75211 85%883$56,807$219,300$207 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Taft, CA 93268 85%432$57,778$236,700$175 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95824 85%624$56,477$345,300$339 pricier homes ($40K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32211 84%1,798$57,021$229,700$179 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Dallas, TX 75228 84%895$62,667$282,700$214 larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.