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 85212

Mesa: median income $125,902, home value $584,000, $259/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bakersfield, CA 93314 96%452$126,250$543,900$245 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Clovis, CA 93619 96%513$136,966$601,100$292 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, CO 80018 91%584$136,895$588,200$225 smaller
Windsor, CO 80550 90%618$126,132$582,000$223 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89178 90%277$108,806$470,600$247 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Cumming, GA 30028 89%1,573$138,011$470,800$201 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Syracuse, UT 84075 89%536$133,286$573,600$224 smaller · younger residents
Las Vegas, NV 89166 89%294$107,846$507,000$250 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · more renters
Wylie, TX 75098 88%873$122,089$401,500$188 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Leander, TX 78641 88%829$135,024$480,400$196 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Peyton, CO 80831 88%553$132,467$548,800$183 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
South Jordan, UT 84009 88%499$137,922$606,500$233 more apartments and townhomes
Mckinney, TX 75071 87%867$132,447$481,400$195 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Midlothian, TX 76065 87%851$127,756$425,100$189 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Johnstown, CO 80534 87%609$129,024$553,300$221 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Brighton, CO 80602 87%590$151,737$667,000$213 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($83K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89141 87%274$122,339$549,100$241 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Cumming, GA 30040 86%1,574$137,211$526,100$219 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Canton, GA 30115 86%1,560$113,089$485,500$203 cheaper homes ($99K less) · older residents
Richmond Hill, GA 31324 86%1,762$122,378$386,600$197 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Saint Johns, FL 32259 86%1,777$150,736$533,400$237 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents
Wesley Chapel, FL 33545 86%1,770$118,889$399,400$193 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller
Mount Juliet, TN 37122 86%1,436$112,967$486,500$236 cheaper homes ($98K less) · older residents
Sparks, NV 89436 86%624$114,100$588,500$303 older residents
Roseville, CA 95747 86%658$136,750$687,600$326 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · 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.