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 Tucson, AZ 85701

Tucson: median income $51,794, home value $492,100, $338/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norfolk, VA 23517 75%1,988$67,375$386,600$214 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 75%804$54,561$441,500$221 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 75%593$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97205 73%1,112$57,288$637,100$387 pricier homes ($145K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Asheville, NC 28801 72%1,640$58,438$548,100$411 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · older residents
Tulsa, OK 74120 70%898$68,255$434,600$188 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95817 70%735$64,212$543,900$457 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43202 69%1,643$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger · younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46202 69%1,476$63,506$439,200$222 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · younger residents
Durham, NC 27701 68%1,845$69,740$508,900$346 larger · newer homes
Portland, OR 97232 68%1,111$70,895$781,200$326 pricier homes ($289K more) · larger · newer homes
Providence, RI 02903 67%2,259$64,476$408,900$475 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Richmond, VA 23220 67%1,924$61,381$473,100$318 larger · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64111 67%1,032$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($205K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Vancouver, WA 98660 67%1,119$67,344$469,600$329 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45220 66%1,553$53,440$402,900$200 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · younger residents
Richmond, VA 23230 65%1,922$74,763$372,900$292 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · newer homes
Jacksonville, FL 32204 65%1,729$65,063$375,000$246 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55405 65%1,293$73,053$467,700$244 larger · younger residents · older homes
Denver, CO 80246 65%618$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($224K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 65%574$61,768$456,100$318 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more homeowners
Albuquerque, NM 87106 65%319$49,781$354,200$242 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger · younger residents
Winooski, VT 05404 64%2,192$79,522$381,500$280 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14202 64%1,892$56,528$479,100$288 9 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Savannah, GA 31401 64%1,742$52,509$552,400$346 pricier homes ($60K 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.