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 85053

Phoenix: median income $70,011, home value $367,000, $247/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Cloud, FL 34769 94%1,858$67,148$313,300$215 cheaper homes ($54K less)
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 93%1,966$77,075$397,800$259 pricier homes ($31K more)
Tampa, FL 33634 93%1,791$74,291$346,400$272 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, OR 97236 93%987$75,090$436,100$281 pricier homes ($69K more)
Portland, OR 97230 92%990$75,572$450,700$255 pricier homes ($84K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97266 92%987$72,577$445,700$302 pricier homes ($79K more)
Saint Petersburg, FL 33712 91%1,791$60,450$326,000$269 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Marysville, CA 95901 91%646$69,776$381,000$264 Very close on everything we compare
Yuba City, CA 95991 91%649$70,590$406,800$254 pricier homes ($40K more)
Norfolk, VA 23518 90%2,027$77,594$300,700$238 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Saint Petersburg, FL 33711 90%1,789$66,540$283,800$270 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Woodburn, OR 97071 90%978$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Salem, OR 97303 90%975$84,871$433,900$263 pricier homes ($67K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Hollywood, FL 33024 89%1,973$80,061$409,400$349 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Bradenton, FL 34208 89%1,806$60,504$318,800$230 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Hickory Hills, IL 60457 89%1,436$76,786$287,800$229 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Modesto, CA 95350 89%571$75,621$429,400$312 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Citrus Heights, CA 95621 89%620$80,901$432,500$321 pricier homes ($66K more)
Orlando, FL 32809 88%1,847$57,879$323,800$232 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Denver, CO 80233 88%588$88,880$465,400$232 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80915 88%549$72,352$350,600$199 6 min shorter commute
Modesto, CA 95355 88%568$86,849$469,000$286 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95827 88%616$85,841$437,300$332 pricier homes ($70K more)
Bremerton, WA 98310 88%1,109$75,878$440,500$286 pricier homes ($74K more)
Capitol Heights, MD 20743 87%1,984$76,466$341,000$250 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 5 min longer 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.