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 93726

Fresno: median income $55,771, home value $294,800, $240/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salem, OR 97301 96%588$60,422$341,000$260 pricier homes ($46K more)
Charlotte, NC 28208 91%2,160$55,431$236,300$231 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Kennewick, WA 99336 90%651$62,527$324,400$240 pricier homes ($30K more)
East Hartford, CT 06108 87%2,513$56,663$230,500$205 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23224 87%2,310$50,475$207,500$217 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Tampa, FL 33612 87%2,243$47,199$282,000$255 6 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85006 87%493$58,248$408,100$311 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller
North Las Vegas, NV 89030 87%261$47,937$271,600$230 Very close on everything we compare
Sparks, NV 89431 87%190$66,592$365,100$294 pricier homes ($70K more)
Norfolk, VA 23502 86%2,387$63,208$266,200$209 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 86%2,427$53,973$309,300$302 larger · 6 min longer commute
Aurora, CO 80010 86%832$63,579$424,600$305 pricier homes ($130K more) · 6 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85017 86%487$58,346$286,700$194 younger residents
Chesapeake, VA 23324 85%2,385$57,045$251,800$193 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43229 85%1,990$57,561$228,200$180 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55130 85%1,495$54,130$236,000$170 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Irving, TX 75061 85%1,319$63,798$257,800$181 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Las Vegas, NV 89104 85%262$52,228$325,500$256 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Norfolk, VA 23504 84%2,384$44,659$269,400$182 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23505 84%2,382$58,579$326,300$221 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Newport News, VA 23605 84%2,373$53,815$194,900$216 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 84%829$61,969$320,300$198 pricier homes ($26K more)
Richmond, VA 23223 83%2,313$55,731$265,200$238 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Portsmouth, VA 23704 83%2,382$49,583$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43219 83%1,993$52,094$199,200$163 cheaper homes ($96K less) · newer homes

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.