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 93710

Fresno: median income $65,851, home value $372,800, $248/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salt Lake City, UT 84116 96%503$66,751$381,300$276 Very close on everything we compare
Reno, NV 89503 95%187$66,743$467,200$298 pricier homes ($94K more)
Mesa, AZ 85202 92%505$71,619$370,900$255 Very close on everything we compare
Kennewick, WA 99336 91%649$62,527$324,400$240 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Newport News, VA 23606 90%2,368$72,874$327,200$205 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 90%829$61,969$320,300$198 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 5 min longer commute
Norfolk, VA 23505 89%2,382$58,579$326,300$221 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes
Marietta, GA 30060 89%1,983$67,510$316,000$231 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 7 min longer commute
Irving, TX 75062 89%1,318$72,704$273,600$199 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Denton, TX 76205 89%1,302$68,600$335,600$196 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Provo, UT 84601 89%496$67,207$403,500$249 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Mesa, AZ 85210 89%506$61,957$337,800$260 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 7 min longer commute
Eugene, OR 97402 89%531$57,658$357,700$289 larger · older residents
Vancouver, WA 98661 89%627$76,913$451,500$289 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Richmond, VA 23225 88%2,307$62,949$313,300$265 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Henrico, VA 23294 88%2,303$64,164$294,500$223 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Houston, TX 77080 88%1,476$62,134$345,000$199 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 88%502$65,548$434,700$306 pricier homes ($62K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Spokane, WA 99216 88%760$74,278$373,200$198 older residents
Anchorage, AK 99508 88%2,128$79,314$335,300$224 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Winchester, VA 22601 87%2,250$64,258$339,800$209 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · less walkable
Richmond, VA 23223 87%2,313$55,731$265,200$238 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
West Palm Beach, FL 33403 87%2,412$70,646$368,800$272 smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80905 87%825$63,281$379,000$264 smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85008 87%496$66,353$358,000$288 larger

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.