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.

Reset

Towns most like Phoenix, AZ 85054

Phoenix: median income $91,507, home value $687,200, $390/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Antonio, TX 78257 89%831$81,301$670,400$267 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27617 78%1,881$110,034$489,600$218 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger
San Antonio, TX 78256 77%831$74,977$579,300$242 cheaper homes ($108K less) · younger residents
Austin, TX 78726 77%856$90,885$698,100$259 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Greenville, SC 29601 73%1,683$76,136$659,000$414 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more walkable
Englewood, CO 80112 72%565$108,874$659,200$282 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more homeowners
Frisco, TX 75034 71%872$111,122$729,700$248 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Tampa, FL 33602 70%1,787$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more walkable
Franklin, TN 37067 70%1,433$111,759$756,300$313 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37209 70%1,428$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger · younger residents
Sterling, VA 20166 68%1,942$133,401$618,800$298 higher income ($42K more) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · 8 min longer commute
Morrisville, NC 27560 68%1,876$118,417$508,200$225 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78727 68%862$110,379$540,400$272 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78729 68%859$86,438$476,200$229 cheaper homes ($211K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Eden Prairie, MN 55344 67%1,251$89,565$363,500$217 cheaper homes ($324K less) · older homes
Lenexa, KS 66219 67%1,023$94,124$394,400$188 cheaper homes ($293K less)
Houston, TX 77027 67%1,006$103,812$859,500$362 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · more walkable
Wilsonville, OR 97070 67%987$97,429$631,400$285 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27612 66%1,885$95,988$529,000$261 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28209 66%1,768$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · more walkable
Atlanta, GA 30324 66%1,580$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Plano, TX 75024 66%875$117,088$598,600$235 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Broomfield, CO 80021 66%572$110,038$568,000$292 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80204 66%567$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · younger residents
Denver, CO 80230 66%572$99,750$829,000$324 pricier homes ($142K more) · older residents · more walkable

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.