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 85031

Phoenix: median income $70,412, home value $294,800, $214/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Garland, TX 75041 93%898$70,308$232,100$181 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Garland, TX 75042 87%896$64,266$240,200$185 cheaper homes ($55K less)
North Highlands, CA 95660 87%626$68,235$356,200$348 pricier homes ($61K more)
Joliet, IL 60432 84%1,427$64,917$193,700$177 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Irving, TX 75060 84%880$71,575$249,800$198 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older residents
Aurora, IL 60505 83%1,420$73,284$205,100$211 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Worth, TX 76103 82%864$60,172$205,000$171 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76111 82%861$60,194$216,400$188 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older residents
Stockton, CA 95204 82%599$75,548$387,100$285 pricier homes ($92K more) · older residents
Joliet, IL 60436 81%1,422$62,961$180,800$182 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller
Barstow, CA 92311 81%295$61,862$246,400$217 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more renters · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95832 81%624$82,318$399,600$288 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller · newer homes
Zion, IL 60099 80%1,456$66,109$196,700$187 cheaper homes ($98K less) · newer homes
Bridgeton, NJ 08302 79%2,082$65,516$202,200$181 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · less walkable
Wyoming, MI 49509 79%1,569$65,132$202,100$208 cheaper homes ($93K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Franklin Park, IL 60131 79%1,444$76,658$287,000$278 smaller · older residents
Burbank, IL 60459 79%1,445$80,116$275,700$223 older residents · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75227 79%897$64,008$217,000$160 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · newer homes
Norfolk, VA 23513 78%2,030$68,380$234,000$200 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Portsmouth, VA 23701 78%2,024$62,349$235,200$203 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55106 78%1,289$70,187$241,800$176 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bellwood, IL 60104 78%1,443$79,513$230,000$219 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · older residents
Elgin, IL 60120 78%1,427$82,449$242,300$205 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Melrose Park, IL 60164 78%1,443$81,263$258,300$261 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76110 78%859$69,790$258,000$231 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 5 min shorter commute

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.