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 93720

Fresno: median income $105,050, home value $477,800, $275/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chandler, AZ 85226 96%507$114,817$483,800$303 Very close on everything we compare
Chandler, AZ 85224 94%509$94,516$438,700$298 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Olympia, WA 98501 94%719$97,198$529,300$299 pricier homes ($52K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85044 93%502$96,820$474,800$281 older residents
Tualatin, OR 97062 93%609$105,407$640,300$293 pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller
Portland, OR 97223 93%613$106,757$600,300$312 pricier homes ($123K more)
Salem, OR 97306 93%579$101,753$463,100$267 more homeowners
Olympia, WA 98502 93%728$92,207$537,200$326 pricier homes ($59K more)
Richland, WA 99352 93%650$100,108$474,100$263 Very close on everything we compare
Broomfield, CO 80020 91%823$117,243$601,800$262 pricier homes ($124K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89113 91%256$94,461$480,900$263 newer homes
Beaverton, OR 97003 91%620$99,072$478,300$313 smaller
Salem, OR 97304 91%586$98,031$499,300$260 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 90%2,397$102,796$416,700$262 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Plano, TX 75075 90%1,327$98,365$428,000$219 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85024 90%489$106,724$471,000$303 smaller
Henderson, NV 89074 90%266$87,407$460,100$252 Very close on everything we compare
Plano, TX 75074 89%1,331$88,697$371,000$206 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Broomfield, CO 80021 89%820$110,038$568,000$292 pricier homes ($90K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Collins, CO 80526 89%829$88,686$551,800$273 pricier homes ($74K more)
Reno, NV 89523 89%184$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($130K more)
Hillsboro, OR 97123 89%620$109,985$538,500$298 pricier homes ($61K more) · more homeowners
Spokane, WA 99223 89%753$94,279$490,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 88%2,389$94,069$418,000$247 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older homes
Orlando, FL 32819 88%2,286$98,109$489,700$278 smaller · 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.