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 Tucson, AZ 85704

Tucson: median income $81,696, home value $423,900, $232/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henrico, VA 23238 92%1,923$101,523$420,500$241 Very close on everything we compare
New Orleans, LA 70123 91%1,238$83,585$348,100$187 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Winston-Salem, NC 27104 89%1,764$81,529$359,300$181 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Bedford, TX 76021 89%806$87,097$374,400$206 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
Reading, PA 19610 88%2,011$87,374$343,600$186 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Charlottesville, VA 22901 88%1,863$92,145$501,700$272 pricier homes ($78K more) · younger residents
Greensboro, NC 27410 88%1,788$85,291$338,600$187 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · younger residents
Asheville, NC 28805 88%1,642$75,151$412,500$281 smaller
Greenville, SC 29615 88%1,653$76,117$377,500$212 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Tampa, FL 33618 88%1,722$84,788$415,800$236 younger residents · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55437 88%1,280$95,718$381,700$202 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Metairie, LA 70005 88%1,241$89,194$430,200$249 older homes
Boca Raton, FL 33433 87%1,895$84,091$469,100$276 pricier homes ($45K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Grafton, WI 53024 87%1,461$92,390$366,300$244 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · younger residents
Albuquerque, NM 87111 87%321$90,290$379,500$235 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more walkable
Southern Pines, NC 28387 86%1,818$74,830$410,800$226 smaller · younger residents
Maitland, FL 32751 86%1,777$95,387$453,700$291 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45255 86%1,559$92,035$303,800$188 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Olympia, WA 98506 86%1,197$91,596$490,900$298 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Essex Junction, VT 05452 85%2,193$101,349$432,400$265 smaller · younger residents
Richmond, VA 23227 85%1,924$69,187$364,900$242 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older homes
Tallahassee, FL 32308 85%1,579$77,967$328,000$217 cheaper homes ($96K less) · younger residents
Huntsville, AL 35802 85%1,413$76,324$334,100$170 cheaper homes ($90K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Louisville, KY 40243 85%1,487$77,587$323,200$196 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Dayton, OH 45459 85%1,575$89,592$302,100$160 cheaper homes ($122K 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.