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 85260

Scottsdale: median income $97,177, home value $698,200, $400/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlottesville, VA 22901 88%1,882$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 88%1,847$111,907$755,100$472 pricier homes ($57K more)
Tampa, FL 33611 88%1,782$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($218K less)
Middleton, WI 53562 87%1,373$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Fort Collins, CO 80525 87%609$91,636$588,400$265 cheaper homes ($110K less) · younger residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 86%2,026$100,697$613,600$349 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Charlotte, NC 28210 86%1,766$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($167K less) · younger residents
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 86%1,795$117,724$582,400$386 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 86%1,944$94,530$497,400$367 cheaper homes ($201K less) · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75230 86%873$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($233K more) · older homes
Tualatin, OR 97062 86%997$105,407$640,300$293 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Olympia, WA 98502 86%1,100$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Reno, NV 89509 85%600$86,126$703,700$385 older homes
Portland, OR 97223 85%1,001$106,757$600,300$312 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Raleigh, NC 27612 84%1,883$95,988$529,000$261 cheaper homes ($169K less) · younger residents
Austin, TX 78759 84%856$102,400$674,000$332 younger residents · more renters
Lafayette, CO 80026 84%580$120,187$705,600$310 Very close on everything we compare
Boulder, CO 80301 84%578$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller · younger residents
Portland, OR 97224 84%1,000$98,125$599,600$288 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Eugene, OR 97408 84%942$104,945$539,600$327 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33609 83%1,781$115,844$605,600$361 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · more walkable
Dallas, TX 75248 83%872$100,414$576,100$254 cheaper homes ($122K less) · older homes
Englewood, CO 80112 83%566$108,874$659,200$282 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
Littleton, CO 80120 83%563$94,296$628,300$289 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Durango, CO 81301 83%341$83,943$695,800$506 less walkable

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.