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 Mesa, AZ 85203

Mesa: median income $73,578, home value $439,100, $262/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bremerton, WA 98310 95%1,129$75,878$440,500$286 smaller
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 94%1,947$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Ogden, UT 84401 94%538$80,758$439,900$223 Very close on everything we compare
Sacramento, CA 95826 94%640$82,127$463,300$320 Very close on everything we compare
Yuba City, CA 95991 93%672$70,590$406,800$254 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Portland, OR 97230 93%1,011$75,572$450,700$255 older residents
Portland, OR 97236 93%1,008$75,090$436,100$281 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, OR 97303 93%997$84,871$433,900$263 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80917 92%545$72,991$387,800$200 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84123 92%499$81,271$464,500$242 pricier homes ($25K more)
Turlock, CA 95380 92%581$74,534$433,600$321 Very close on everything we compare
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 92%641$83,327$485,900$319 pricier homes ($47K more)
Portland, OR 97266 92%1,008$72,577$445,700$302 older residents
Marietta, GA 30060 91%1,563$67,510$316,000$231 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Tampa, FL 33634 91%1,771$74,291$346,400$272 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · older residents
Nashville, TN 37207 91%1,429$61,744$365,500$267 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Aurora, CO 80017 91%582$80,524$427,100$222 Very close on everything we compare
Salt Lake City, UT 84116 91%508$66,751$381,300$276 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Sacramento, CA 95827 91%639$85,841$437,300$332 smaller
Sacramento, CA 95842 91%644$68,276$413,700$313 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Albany, OR 97322 91%979$69,808$352,900$280 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older residents
Vancouver, WA 98665 91%1,023$88,559$476,200$274 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents
Aurora, CO 80011 90%583$74,022$409,100$235 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Denver, CO 80233 90%586$88,880$465,400$232 pricier homes ($26K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89120 90%261$74,688$401,800$221 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older 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.