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 Tempe, AZ 85283

Tempe: median income $84,568, home value $442,800, $298/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75234 94%870$86,733$351,600$247 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Longmont, CO 80501 92%603$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($46K more)
Durham, NC 27707 91%1,875$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Austin, TX 78745 91%858$86,109$504,800$291 pricier homes ($62K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 91%550$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95826 91%637$82,127$463,300$320 5 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28205 90%1,775$75,622$457,200$356 Very close on everything we compare
Arvada, CO 80002 90%584$93,362$558,500$322 pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller
Sandy, UT 84070 90%498$78,991$461,900$273 smaller
Beaverton, OR 97003 90%1,020$99,072$478,300$313 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 89%2,025$94,069$418,000$247 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, WI 53704 89%1,392$74,034$318,400$265 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Richardson, TX 75081 89%880$93,165$371,500$201 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76107 89%843$79,990$431,200$280 smaller
Houston, TX 77055 89%997$74,369$624,200$278 pricier homes ($181K more)
Denver, CO 80226 89%580$82,300$568,300$267 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller
Loma Linda, CA 92354 89%309$83,847$564,400$356 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller
Westbrook, ME 04092 88%2,330$85,038$383,300$331 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Charleston, SC 29407 88%1,841$85,367$451,800$356 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30341 88%1,586$86,313$463,100$287 5 min longer commute
Carrollton, TX 75006 88%870$84,815$328,500$202 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 87%1,797$89,185$452,700$340 smaller · older residents
Chattanooga, TN 37405 87%1,521$81,337$460,600$297 smaller
Waukesha, WI 53186 87%1,443$74,588$301,100$224 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Missoula, MT 59802 87%941$67,736$461,700$351 smaller

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.