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 Fresno, CA 93650

Fresno: median income $49,031, home value $287,300, $289/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portsmouth, VA 23702 73%2,383$48,835$208,000$184 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · more homeowners
Newport News, VA 23605 72%2,374$53,815$194,900$216 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55103 72%1,493$48,390$257,500$205 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more homeowners
Stone Park, IL 60165 70%1,730$67,224$242,100$209 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85006 70%496$58,248$408,100$311 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23523 69%2,386$35,533$224,600$153 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Indian Orchard, MA 01151 68%2,516$55,324$237,200$219 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75215 68%1,334$45,557$190,100$172 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · older residents
Portsmouth, VA 23704 66%2,383$49,583$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Pensacola, FL 32501 66%1,916$44,139$287,900$228 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33605 65%2,249$36,975$264,400$239 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Saint Paul, MN 55130 64%1,495$54,130$236,000$170 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78204 64%1,331$60,255$173,100$207 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85007 64%494$63,616$480,600$340 pricier homes ($193K more) · larger · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23502 63%2,388$63,208$266,200$209 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75203 63%1,332$46,989$159,900$185 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
San Antonio, TX 78203 63%1,333$35,536$158,000$191 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · more homeowners
Waterbury, CT 06706 62%2,495$52,242$210,700$188 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23504 62%2,385$44,659$269,400$182 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 62%1,872$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77023 62%1,492$51,430$302,300$188 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Las Vegas, NV 89106 62%262$42,007$290,000$240 larger · newer homes
East Hartford, CT 06108 61%2,514$56,663$230,500$205 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · more homeowners
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 61%2,442$53,899$195,000$215 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43203 61%1,992$47,572$319,300$169 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.