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 85716

Tucson: median income $49,061, home value $324,000, $231/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Albuquerque, NM 87106 92%316$49,781$354,200$242 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents
Albuquerque, NM 87108 92%317$42,724$243,200$193 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Richmond, VA 23223 88%1,924$55,731$265,200$238 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
El Paso, TX 79902 88%261$50,873$238,500$163 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23505 87%1,985$58,579$326,300$221 younger residents
Wilmington, NC 28401 87%1,902$57,968$298,500$270 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Albuquerque, NM 87102 86%314$42,990$197,300$230 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23225 85%1,918$62,949$313,300$265 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32207 85%1,730$65,234$307,200$226 more homeowners
Memphis, TN 38104 84%1,217$58,117$317,200$167 older homes
Fort Worth, TX 76116 84%785$56,187$305,800$193 larger · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78212 84%762$62,801$330,600$197 older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55103 83%1,297$48,390$257,500$205 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
New Orleans, LA 70119 83%1,241$53,143$371,000$195 pricier homes ($47K more) · older homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80905 83%569$63,281$379,000$264 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Eureka, CA 95501 83%941$54,137$412,300$271 pricier homes ($88K more)
Covington, KY 41011 82%1,549$69,970$304,200$204 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64116 82%1,032$64,123$240,900$194 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Galveston, TX 77550 82%978$45,047$325,900$222 less walkable
San Antonio, TX 78216 82%760$59,110$310,700$173 newer homes
Albuquerque, NM 87109 82%321$58,900$325,800$216 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Portsmouth, VA 23704 80%1,984$49,583$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Lexington, KY 40504 80%1,537$46,055$222,600$184 cheaper homes ($101K less) · younger residents
Holyoke, MA 01040 79%2,195$53,605$274,100$183 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28208 79%1,731$55,431$236,300$231 cheaper homes ($88K 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.