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 85215

Mesa: median income $98,831, home value $441,000, $278/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Melbourne, FL 32934 95%1,870$104,369$416,100$241 Very close on everything we compare
Berlin, MD 21811 92%2,058$90,082$388,900$265 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Seneca, SC 29672 92%1,643$90,650$482,100$271 pricier homes ($41K more)
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 91%371$84,270$486,000$342 pricier homes ($45K more)
Clarence, NY 14031 89%1,898$103,750$343,700$249 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Weaverville, NC 28787 88%1,660$78,604$401,700$266 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Merritt Island, FL 32953 88%1,863$87,262$419,200$225 Very close on everything we compare
Sarasota, FL 34243 88%1,782$81,219$429,400$238 larger
Oldsmar, FL 34677 88%1,758$93,474$387,300$249 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Palm Harbor, FL 34685 88%1,756$94,688$518,000$251 pricier homes ($77K more)
Muskego, WI 53150 88%1,431$109,276$416,400$250 larger · younger residents
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 88%807$91,452$483,200$281 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older residents
Mashpee, MA 02649 87%2,305$95,299$562,200$420 pricier homes ($121K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32223 87%1,775$95,347$409,900$225 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Safety Harbor, FL 34695 87%1,758$95,238$439,300$316 more walkable
Kennebunk, ME 04043 86%2,305$107,804$487,700$378 pricier homes ($47K more)
Selbyville, DE 19975 86%2,060$88,568$462,700$280 smaller · older residents
Easton, MD 21601 86%2,010$83,680$376,400$232 cheaper homes ($65K less) · younger residents
Greensboro, GA 30642 86%1,639$95,527$496,400$262 pricier homes ($55K more)
Port Orange, FL 32128 86%1,831$95,831$422,300$225 6 min longer commute
Rockledge, FL 32955 86%1,864$86,457$359,400$218 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Vero Beach, FL 32967 86%1,895$78,058$423,500$243 larger
Utica, MI 48315 86%1,676$100,684$378,700$187 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 86%784$75,237$463,300$284 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89144 86%277$104,511$548,000$302 pricier homes ($107K more) · younger 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.