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 85034

Phoenix: median income $63,559, home value $422,200, $280/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Worth, TX 76102 82%852$75,859$296,600$304 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75235 80%880$63,393$294,500$249 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80216 77%588$82,143$425,700$270 larger
Charlotte, NC 28206 76%1,778$61,818$298,600$259 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75240 76%882$58,320$395,100$220 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27601 75%1,898$71,350$579,500$387 pricier homes ($157K more) · larger
Renton, WA 98057 75%1,105$68,552$648,800$376 pricier homes ($227K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98402 74%1,098$60,505$531,300$438 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Austin, TX 78752 71%868$67,682$422,000$334 larger · older homes
Miami, FL 33136 70%1,976$44,843$416,900$328 larger · older homes
Columbus, OH 43240 70%1,665$82,895$329,200$224 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · less walkable
Airway Heights, WA 99001 70%1,023$62,518$346,200$233 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Norfolk, VA 23510 69%2,022$73,524$385,700$246 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Minneapolis, MN 55425 69%1,274$76,274$339,500$209 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · less walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 69%505$52,952$440,200$399 larger · older homes
Fairview, OR 97024 69%1,002$69,679$414,100$284 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 68%1,967$66,100$383,400$347 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · more homeowners
Sacramento, CA 95825 68%632$64,602$440,200$292 larger · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95841 68%632$61,054$424,500$289 larger · more homeowners · older homes
Chattanooga, TN 37408 67%1,527$81,250$468,200$282 pricier homes ($46K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77003 67%1,014$83,980$384,400$194 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 67%505$72,735$499,300$474 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 67%503$65,548$434,700$306 larger · more homeowners · older homes
Everett, WA 98204 67%1,131$68,513$414,000$353 larger
Anchorage, AK 99503 67%2,545$76,144$339,000$216 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 7 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.