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 85284

Tempe: median income $156,146, home value $688,400, $300/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Linn, OR 97068 87%1,008$151,729$796,400$329 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger · less walkable
Littleton, CO 80130 85%579$158,741$691,800$235 less walkable
Littleton, CO 80126 84%577$169,882$782,000$267 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · less walkable
Excelsior, MN 55331 83%1,262$159,450$737,000$273 pricier homes ($49K more) · less walkable
Littleton, CO 80121 83%581$142,056$707,900$311 less walkable · older homes
Albuquerque, NM 87122 82%334$169,041$650,200$264 cheaper homes ($38K less) · less walkable
Littleton, CO 80122 81%579$128,691$634,400$256 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Falmouth, ME 04105 80%2,336$150,919$767,500$370 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller · less walkable
Wayzata, MN 55391 80%1,266$174,301$923,400$340 pricier homes ($235K more) · less walkable
Sandy, UT 84092 80%501$151,500$764,800$273 pricier homes ($76K more) · less walkable
Portland, OR 97221 80%1,017$145,671$821,400$342 pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller · older homes
Libertyville, IL 60048 79%1,440$173,975$551,200$288 cheaper homes ($137K less) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45242 78%1,582$124,567$447,100$249 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($241K less) · older homes
Minnetonka, MN 55345 78%1,266$145,332$504,000$227 cheaper homes ($184K less) · less walkable · older homes
Moorestown, NJ 08057 77%2,084$158,770$680,200$308 less walkable · older homes
Hockessin, DE 19707 77%2,045$172,696$556,600$211 cheaper homes ($132K less) · less walkable
Fairfax, VA 22032 77%1,958$178,394$799,200$361 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33629 77%1,782$164,355$851,400$493 pricier homes ($163K more) · older homes
Leawood, KS 66209 77%1,039$143,393$598,200$206 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Arvada, CO 80005 77%587$136,821$649,800$255 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Sandy, UT 84093 77%501$138,556$698,900$270 older homes
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 77%1,011$149,236$1,047,500$444 pricier homes ($359K more) · older homes
Chantilly, VA 20151 76%1,950$158,271$676,800$317 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
San Antonio, TX 78248 76%830$130,552$479,500$207 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($209K less)
Louisville, CO 80027 76%593$154,232$890,200$358 pricier homes ($202K more) · larger · 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.