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 Surprise, AZ 85379

Surprise: median income $110,616, home value $448,200, $210/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indian Trail, NC 28079 92%1,805$100,516$395,700$193 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76131 92%870$108,694$343,100$174 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76179 92%864$107,428$330,300$169 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Hutto, TX 78634 92%892$114,426$375,200$172 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89178 92%234$108,806$470,600$247 Very close on everything we compare
Kuna, ID 83634 91%716$97,171$432,600$272 Very close on everything we compare
Anna, TX 75409 90%910$104,814$353,600$166 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Arlington, TX 76002 90%887$100,667$339,100$167 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Buford, GA 30519 89%1,627$102,553$413,000$182 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Clermont, FL 34715 89%1,838$105,262$437,800$220 smaller · older residents
Red Oak, TX 75154 89%904$100,388$345,500$177 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Midlothian, TX 76065 89%893$127,756$425,100$189 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Worth, TX 76123 89%870$102,768$310,500$150 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89143 89%250$112,004$462,300$265 smaller
Bakersfield, CA 93314 89%406$126,250$543,900$245 pricier homes ($96K more)
Sacramento, CA 95829 89%603$105,395$621,100$292 pricier homes ($173K more) · smaller
Lawrenceville, GA 30045 88%1,627$104,350$377,800$174 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 7 min longer commute
Braselton, GA 30517 88%1,635$118,034$411,200$173 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Rowlett, TX 75089 88%914$118,318$382,400$177 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89166 88%252$107,846$507,000$250 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Dacula, GA 30019 87%1,631$116,583$440,700$168 6 min longer commute
Ocoee, FL 34761 87%1,850$96,415$401,700$214 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Wentzville, MO 63385 87%1,249$112,199$347,200$189 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Wylie, TX 75098 87%914$122,089$401,500$188 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Arlington, TX 76001 87%883$105,311$352,700$171 cheaper homes ($96K less)

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.