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 Tulare, CA 93274

Tulare: median income $72,650, home value $329,800, $240/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richmond, VA 23234 84%2,298$66,619$266,200$218 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · older residents
Shelbyville, TN 37160 84%1,833$64,800$277,700$206 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85037 83%443$84,016$330,200$243 more walkable
Moses Lake, WA 98837 83%756$74,586$315,000$234 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Caldwell, ID 83605 82%534$68,427$346,100$239 smaller · more homeowners · more walkable
Jacksonville, NC 28540 81%2,340$65,625$223,800$171 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller
Gainesville, GA 30504 81%1,994$75,885$351,600$194 smaller
Clarksville, TN 37042 81%1,767$70,393$247,100$180 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Springdale, AR 72764 81%1,407$65,898$249,800$205 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Vernal, UT 84078 81%606$75,113$309,000$176 smaller · more homeowners
Grandview, WA 98930 81%695$64,583$303,500$251 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32818 80%2,255$63,061$304,600$202 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Rogers, AR 72756 80%1,401$72,230$269,200$212 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · older residents
Rock Hill, SC 29730 79%2,142$68,543$259,700$196 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents
Springfield, TN 37172 79%1,798$72,168$312,600$219 smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Mountain Home, ID 83647 79%517$63,760$320,400$225 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Nampa, ID 83651 79%530$69,914$338,900$243 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85043 79%447$78,257$343,400$210 smaller · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Sunnyside, WA 98944 79%700$64,276$260,000$225 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Marys, GA 31558 78%2,197$74,268$297,000$181 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 78%1,920$70,711$321,300$217 smaller · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Smyrna, TN 37167 78%1,825$84,351$365,400$220 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Twin Falls, ID 83301 78%510$62,647$334,000$242 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Jerome, ID 83338 78%519$72,072$269,000$241 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Avondale, AZ 85323 78%440$83,120$370,200$219 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · more 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.