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 85213

Mesa: median income $103,969, home value $438,900, $270/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Anchorage, AK 99515 96%2,550$113,995$427,500$269 smaller
Salem, OR 97306 95%992$101,753$463,100$267 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 94%2,022$102,796$416,700$262 larger
Hillsboro, OR 97123 93%1,023$109,985$538,500$298 pricier homes ($100K more)
Smithfield, RI 02917 92%2,256$110,938$451,800$281 smaller
Shakopee, MN 55379 92%1,249$106,312$379,700$201 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Colchester, VT 05446 91%2,185$97,475$393,200$282 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 91%2,019$93,838$336,900$234 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Bremerton, WA 98311 91%1,132$108,757$471,800$299 pricier homes ($33K more)
Olympia, WA 98512 91%1,104$101,530$472,100$316 pricier homes ($33K more) · less walkable
Anchorage, AK 99502 91%2,554$116,071$418,300$273 Very close on everything we compare
Anchorage, AK 99507 91%2,550$107,992$384,100$266 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Mount Holly, NJ 08060 90%2,082$109,292$338,100$234 cheaper homes ($101K less) · 5 min longer commute
Glen Burnie, MD 21060 90%1,986$104,715$377,100$229 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 6 min longer commute
Franklin, WI 53132 90%1,440$109,850$367,500$223 cheaper homes ($71K less) · less walkable
Waukesha, WI 53188 90%1,430$92,409$348,600$237 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Chaska, MN 55318 90%1,246$112,243$420,400$211 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55443 90%1,269$95,082$370,800$179 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Westminster, CO 80031 90%580$107,422$535,300$249 pricier homes ($96K more)
Albany, OR 97321 90%984$99,416$473,100$267 pricier homes ($34K more) · more single-family homes
Neptune, NJ 07753 89%2,120$95,712$425,800$371 Very close on everything we compare
Lititz, PA 17543 89%2,003$97,435$348,400$234 cheaper homes ($91K less) · less walkable
Langhorne, PA 19047 89%2,076$109,530$467,000$285 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
Williamsburg, VA 23185 89%1,981$105,431$429,500$220 larger
Chesapeake, VA 23321 89%2,000$101,568$367,900$209 cheaper homes ($71K less)

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.