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 Scottsdale, AZ 85256

Scottsdale: median income $44,844, home value $190,500, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Purdy, MO 65734 91%1,037$56,744$197,200$131 Very close on everything we compare
Loving, NM 88256 86%458$45,714$211,000$241 smaller · older residents
Ambrose, GA 31512 85%1,681$49,547$166,900— smaller
Golden, MS 38847 84%1,355$50,353$115,700$119 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Doyle, TN 38559 83%1,501$43,961$158,200$228 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Pierce City, MO 65723 83%1,034$49,695$165,100$90 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Berryville, AR 72616 83%1,054$52,077$202,800$143 larger · older residents
Ivanhoe, CA 93235 83%463$52,083$229,200$156 pricier homes ($39K more) · more renters
Accomac, VA 23301 82%2,040$46,680$227,800$125 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · older residents
Gassville, AR 72635 82%1,114$49,709$172,100$148 older residents
Pocola, OK 74902 82%997$50,545$151,100$97 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Science Hill, KY 42553 81%1,549$52,737$154,500$165 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older residents
Pangburn, AR 72121 81%1,149$44,221$175,900$205 older residents
George West, TX 78022 81%888$55,895$171,100$127 older residents
Outlook, WA 98938 81%989$46,022$219,900$250 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · older residents
Lake Village, AR 71653 80%1,185$51,797$153,400$108 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Nashville, AR 71852 80%1,033$47,238$174,500$122 larger · older residents
Big Lake, TX 76932 79%618$57,813$171,500— more walkable
Hoopa, CA 95546 79%833$61,607$253,400$118 pricier homes ($63K more)
Cherokee, NC 28719 78%1,625$60,658$188,400— larger · older residents
Jackson, SC 29831 78%1,727$53,790$177,100$134 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Lakeland, GA 31635 78%1,684$45,414$171,800$153 larger · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Cross City, FL 32628 78%1,702$44,567$130,700$175 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Geraldine, AL 35974 78%1,478$52,054$155,900$97 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Keavy, KY 40737 78%1,577$47,096$137,000$173 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute

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.