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 93711

Fresno: median income $104,176, home value $494,200, $250/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85044 95%505$96,820$474,800$281 Very close on everything we compare
Olympia, WA 98501 95%721$97,198$529,300$299 pricier homes ($35K more)
Plano, TX 75075 94%1,331$98,365$428,000$219 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Salem, OR 97304 94%586$98,031$499,300$260 Very close on everything we compare
Spokane, WA 99223 94%756$94,279$490,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, OR 97223 93%614$106,757$600,300$312 pricier homes ($106K more)
Salem, OR 97306 93%580$101,753$463,100$267 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Salem, OR 97302 92%582$85,833$446,400$268 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Cary, NC 27511 91%2,270$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Waukesha, WI 53188 91%1,715$92,409$348,600$237 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Westminster, CO 80031 91%828$107,422$535,300$249 pricier homes ($41K more) · 7 min longer commute
Chandler, AZ 85226 91%509$114,817$483,800$303 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, OR 97224 91%612$98,125$599,600$288 pricier homes ($105K more) · older residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 90%2,401$102,796$416,700$262 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 90%2,393$94,069$418,000$247 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Carrollton, TX 75007 90%1,323$111,521$381,100$213 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 90%830$89,984$574,100$224 pricier homes ($80K more)
Chandler, AZ 85224 90%511$94,516$438,700$298 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Tualatin, OR 97062 90%610$105,407$640,300$293 pricier homes ($146K more)
Medford, OR 97504 89%413$83,923$468,900$267 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Olympia, WA 98502 89%729$92,207$537,200$326 pricier homes ($43K more)
Richland, WA 99352 89%652$100,108$474,100$263 newer homes
Arvada, CO 80004 88%823$103,659$616,700$268 pricier homes ($123K more) · 5 min longer commute
Bountiful, UT 84010 88%511$102,445$526,300$235 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Sandy, UT 84094 88%501$106,732$528,700$264 pricier homes ($35K more)

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.