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 Surprise, AZ 85378

Surprise: median income $56,444, home value $274,500, $223/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bunnell, FL 32110 94%1,842$57,485$246,500$191 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Aransas Pass, TX 78336 92%982$58,420$214,200$183 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Sutherlin, OR 97479 91%896$59,335$291,900$258 older homes
Madisonville, TN 37354 90%1,593$54,550$231,800$213 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Salisbury, NC 28147 89%1,803$65,060$268,600$175 larger
Commerce, GA 30530 89%1,654$55,392$274,800$174 Very close on everything we compare
Okeechobee, FL 34972 89%1,909$61,040$220,000$225 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Sweetwater, TN 37874 89%1,585$53,605$191,300$192 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Rainbow City, AL 35906 88%1,503$56,420$220,900$155 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Clifton, CO 81520 88%434$50,283$249,600$261 older homes
Laurel, DE 19956 87%2,067$65,603$259,500$192 larger
Liberty, NC 27298 87%1,857$69,421$214,700$200 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Ridgeland, SC 29936 87%1,810$48,986$216,800$213 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Cornelia, GA 30531 87%1,643$53,762$227,300$169 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Clewiston, FL 33440 87%1,926$56,341$208,000$215 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Decatur, AR 72722 87%1,028$54,838$230,200$228 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · younger residents
Umatilla, OR 97882 87%925$69,223$244,800$232 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Goldendale, WA 98620 87%955$60,500$280,500$233 older homes
Bridgeville, DE 19933 86%2,064$60,703$269,200$201 more homeowners
Rockwell, NC 28138 86%1,812$66,896$216,100$183 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Reddick, FL 32686 86%1,790$49,821$334,100$257 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Dayton, TN 37321 86%1,555$54,684$192,700$179 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Kodak, TN 37764 86%1,631$70,989$284,000$199 Very close on everything we compare
Hondo, TX 78861 86%831$64,917$223,200$173 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more homeowners
Corning, CA 96021 86%697$59,592$314,000$246 pricier homes ($40K 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.