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 85714

Tucson: median income $55,000, home value $203,600, $194/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 96%2,088$53,899$195,000$215 Very close on everything we compare
Hampton, VA 23663 95%1,988$54,336$202,300$191 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77022 93%937$52,739$219,200$183 larger
Kenner, LA 70062 92%1,234$51,477$200,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64117 90%1,040$59,601$186,900$164 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45439 89%1,577$52,035$143,300$150 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Joliet, IL 60436 89%1,410$62,961$180,800$182 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77020 88%941$50,119$163,300$175 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Jacksonville, FL 32211 87%1,735$57,021$229,700$179 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Panama City, FL 32401 87%1,500$52,523$230,500$197 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Chattanooga, TN 37406 87%1,489$44,850$168,000$176 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Columbus, OH 43227 87%1,650$48,159$152,800$155 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Clarksville, IN 47129 87%1,479$56,185$170,600$139 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Des Moines, IA 50315 87%1,154$60,590$173,200$187 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75224 87%824$51,919$239,600$207 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Fort Worth, TX 76111 87%797$60,194$216,400$188 older homes
Corpus Christi, TX 78415 87%867$54,990$152,000$168 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Chesapeake, VA 23324 86%1,991$57,045$251,800$193 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Joliet, IL 60432 86%1,416$64,917$193,700$177 7 min longer commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 86%801$54,642$159,200$142 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Tulsa, OK 74129 86%905$49,677$153,700$143 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76106 86%794$55,431$172,400$178 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Fort Worth, TX 76114 86%792$62,073$222,600$195 larger
Blythe, CA 92225 86%233$55,725$218,000$161 more apartments and townhomes
Milton Freewater, OR 97862 86%1,031$54,786$274,900$220 pricier homes ($71K more) · less walkable

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.