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 85719

Tucson: median income $42,241, home value $304,300, $266/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denton, TX 76201 86%805$39,982$257,700$188 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Provo, UT 84606 83%553$52,811$443,600$275 pricier homes ($139K more)
Wilmington, NC 28403 81%1,907$54,547$386,700$277 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents · newer homes
Bloomington, IN 47408 81%1,450$45,644$346,900$188 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · less walkable
Tallahassee, FL 32301 78%1,576$50,942$226,700$188 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · older residents
Gainesville, FL 32607 78%1,696$45,987$321,900$180 newer homes
Eugene, OR 97401 78%1,047$52,022$494,100$328 pricier homes ($190K more) · older residents
Columbus, OH 43201 76%1,641$43,731$440,000$272 pricier homes ($136K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Albuquerque, NM 87106 76%317$49,781$354,200$242 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents
Gainesville, FL 32601 75%1,701$30,352$284,300$254 smaller
Birmingham, AL 35205 75%1,401$51,158$293,800$235 smaller · older residents · older homes
Lexington, KY 40504 75%1,539$46,055$222,600$184 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · older residents
Norfolk, VA 23504 73%1,988$44,659$269,400$182 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older residents
East Lansing, MI 48823 73%1,613$52,018$282,600$173 more homeowners
Madison, WI 53713 73%1,389$58,017$255,600$229 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older residents
Lexington, KY 40508 72%1,541$29,440$182,800$240 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Morgantown, WV 26505 71%1,798$45,536$278,000$170 cheaper homes ($26K less) · less walkable
Nashville, TN 37210 71%1,406$50,284$355,600$315 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · older residents
Columbia, SC 29201 70%1,729$32,297$255,800$213 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Omaha, NE 68131 70%1,035$48,925$227,200$161 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · older residents
Lexington, KY 40517 68%1,542$53,670$216,900$169 cheaper homes ($87K less) · older residents
Oxford, OH 45056 68%1,544$49,233$250,700$188 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Urbana, IL 61801 68%1,375$36,180$177,100$158 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
Arcata, CA 95521 68%939$53,114$501,000$340 pricier homes ($197K more) · smaller · older residents
Eugene, OR 97403 68%1,045$45,417$592,200$330 pricier homes ($288K more) · smaller

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.