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 85042

Phoenix: median income $88,717, home value $398,000, $250/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Myers, FL 33967 95%1,864$90,519$364,400$233 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Layton, UT 84041 94%533$89,604$443,100$229 pricier homes ($45K more)
Turlock, CA 95382 93%573$95,282$491,700$308 pricier homes ($94K more)
Salem, OR 97304 92%993$98,031$499,300$260 pricier homes ($101K more)
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 91%2,034$93,838$336,900$234 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Clearfield, UT 84015 91%535$95,519$417,100$219 larger
West Jordan, UT 84084 91%501$96,056$459,400$253 pricier homes ($61K more)
West Jordan, UT 84088 91%499$105,142$482,500$241 pricier homes ($85K more)
Vancouver, WA 98662 91%1,018$94,303$453,200$282 pricier homes ($55K more)
Spokane, WA 99208 91%1,031$88,599$450,800$205 pricier homes ($53K more) · older residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23464 90%2,029$92,468$355,800$230 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
West Palm Beach, FL 33413 90%1,954$91,131$437,200$254 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80013 90%591$101,191$474,000$225 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Ogden, UT 84404 90%545$85,057$396,800$228 Very close on everything we compare
Ogden, UT 84405 90%539$84,106$425,100$203 pricier homes ($27K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89129 90%270$89,798$448,800$246 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents
Fresno, CA 93727 90%493$87,466$395,800$255 larger
Troutdale, OR 97060 90%1,003$88,279$443,600$286 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Gresham, OR 97080 90%1,001$96,305$502,000$269 pricier homes ($104K more)
Newberg, OR 97132 90%1,009$96,493$522,900$310 pricier homes ($125K more)
Salem, OR 97303 90%993$84,871$433,900$263 pricier homes ($36K more)
Vancouver, WA 98682 90%1,015$99,918$462,700$302 pricier homes ($65K more)
Garland, TX 75044 89%888$92,178$344,300$190 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 89%556$87,685$442,200$208 pricier homes ($44K more)
Springville, UT 84663 89%469$90,252$455,800$241 pricier homes ($58K more) · 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.