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 El Mirage, AZ 85335

El Mirage: median income $78,050, home value $321,900, $212/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
La Vergne, TN 37086 95%1,467$78,857$303,200$216 Very close on everything we compare
Crestview, FL 32536 91%1,514$78,119$305,800$169 Very close on everything we compare
Lehigh Acres, FL 33971 91%1,885$77,723$310,000$196 6 min longer commute
Winder, GA 30680 90%1,638$80,956$284,900$188 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cape Coral, FL 33909 90%1,869$73,053$324,100$202 older residents
Fernley, NV 89408 90%564$89,552$366,500$259 pricier homes ($45K more)
Monroe, NC 28110 89%1,809$83,480$342,600$205 larger
Monroe, GA 30655 89%1,640$69,148$326,800$197 Very close on everything we compare
Crestview, FL 32539 89%1,520$74,369$286,200$178 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Springfield, TN 37172 89%1,449$72,168$312,600$219 older residents · older homes
Ennis, TX 75119 89%914$77,053$278,800$156 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Olivehurst, CA 95961 89%637$89,561$435,500$255 pricier homes ($114K more) · 5 min longer commute
Troy, MO 63379 88%1,243$91,194$256,600$205 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Georgetown, DE 19947 87%2,076$71,229$322,300$196 smaller · older residents
Rincon, GA 31326 87%1,798$83,145$279,300$184 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Gibsonton, FL 33534 87%1,816$80,484$314,000$171 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, TN 37148 87%1,469$81,633$295,000$228 cheaper homes ($27K less) · less walkable
Cartersville, GA 30120 86%1,573$86,581$307,000$179 older homes
Douglasville, GA 30134 86%1,581$76,574$283,800$161 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Jackson, GA 30233 86%1,629$74,222$253,100$164 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents
Bethlehem, GA 30620 86%1,637$84,098$341,600$178 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Jacksonville, FL 32221 86%1,797$82,969$279,200$169 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32222 86%1,798$85,649$312,500$169 smaller
Palm Bay, FL 32909 86%1,912$79,977$307,100$193 older residents · more homeowners
Fort Worth, TX 76108 86%858$80,412$253,700$179 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older 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.