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 85032

Phoenix: median income $78,643, home value $416,800, $309/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Longmont, CO 80501 95%592$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 94%621$89,484$491,100$319 pricier homes ($74K more)
Lacey, WA 98503 94%1,084$89,002$438,100$293 smaller
Boise, ID 83704 93%729$73,390$388,000$281 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Sacramento, CA 95826 92%624$82,127$463,300$320 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Portland, OR 97230 92%994$75,572$450,700$255 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Salem, OR 97303 92%980$84,871$433,900$263 smaller
Vancouver, WA 98665 91%1,006$88,559$476,200$274 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84123 90%486$81,271$464,500$242 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Henderson, NV 89014 90%242$73,284$430,000$240 smaller
Henderson, NV 89074 90%242$87,407$460,100$252 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Las Vegas, NV 89117 90%254$75,145$512,500$256 pricier homes ($96K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89128 90%256$73,010$414,400$234 smaller
Las Vegas, NV 89147 90%253$74,985$407,300$252 newer homes
Mcminnville, OR 97128 90%997$75,896$457,600$288 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Portland, OR 97222 90%991$83,119$490,900$316 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller · older homes
Portland, OR 97266 90%991$72,577$445,700$302 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Wenatchee, WA 98801 90%1,048$81,488$461,200$292 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 89%1,959$77,075$397,800$259 smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 89%540$74,402$414,900$260 smaller · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95833 89%632$97,792$464,400$302 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 88%2,027$79,085$346,600$250 cheaper homes ($70K less) · less walkable
Wilmington, NC 28405 88%1,948$70,274$368,500$257 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32812 88%1,843$73,149$375,200$235 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Sandy, UT 84070 88%481$78,991$461,900$273 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · younger 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.