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 Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Scottsdale: median income $92,851, home value $554,400, $388/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 92%2,030$100,697$613,600$349 pricier homes ($59K more)
Raleigh, NC 27609 90%1,889$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($83K less) · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77079 87%993$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($126K more)
Boulder, CO 80301 87%585$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($239K more) · smaller
Denver, CO 80237 86%576$85,705$582,500$241 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22204 85%1,965$107,941$688,000$418 pricier homes ($134K more) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22312 85%1,962$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28209 85%1,769$101,873$623,000$446 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28210 85%1,769$100,824$531,700$315 more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80204 85%576$84,829$620,500$401 pricier homes ($66K more) · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22304 84%1,963$101,600$508,200$320 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 8 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78723 84%863$100,329$562,300$355 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 83%2,128$96,725$616,300$447 pricier homes ($62K more) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55416 83%1,266$105,958$461,500$272 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Dallas, TX 75248 83%874$100,414$576,100$254 more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30341 82%1,584$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents
Austin, TX 78759 82%857$102,400$674,000$332 pricier homes ($120K more) · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80205 82%579$104,836$649,300$391 pricier homes ($95K more) · younger residents
Towson, MD 21204 81%1,991$99,606$594,800$261 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22041 81%1,962$92,636$452,300$311 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 8 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33611 81%1,783$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more single-family homes
Fort Worth, TX 76107 81%842$79,990$431,200$280 cheaper homes ($123K less) · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78209 81%839$86,514$497,000$266 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more single-family homes
Arvada, CO 80002 81%576$93,362$558,500$322 smaller · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80222 81%576$86,472$623,400$359 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · more single-family homes

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.