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 93728

Fresno: median income $62,986, home value $274,200, $221/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spokane, WA 99207 90%766$60,452$274,100$185 larger · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55411 88%1,489$60,225$245,400$145 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77023 88%1,492$51,430$302,300$188 pricier homes ($28K more)
Knoxville, TN 37917 86%1,986$54,423$219,200$227 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents
San Antonio, TX 78204 86%1,330$60,255$173,100$207 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · newer homes
Chattanooga, TN 37404 84%1,926$56,637$255,400$195 7 min shorter commute
Racine, WI 53403 84%1,739$59,820$176,000$188 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more homeowners
Chicopee, MA 01013 83%2,513$59,759$271,900$234 more apartments and townhomes
Richmond, VA 23222 83%2,314$61,345$274,800$218 more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23502 83%2,390$63,208$266,200$209 newer homes
Savannah, GA 31404 83%2,218$53,303$215,500$209 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · newer homes
Jacksonville, FL 32205 83%2,223$64,789$291,900$210 larger
Dallas, TX 75224 83%1,331$51,919$239,600$207 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · newer homes
Penns Grove, NJ 08069 82%2,392$71,942$198,100$200 cheaper homes ($76K less) · older residents · newer homes
Norfolk, VA 23513 82%2,388$68,380$234,000$200 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · newer homes
Portsmouth, VA 23707 82%2,384$48,926$230,800$178 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76110 82%1,303$69,790$258,000$231 larger · more homeowners
Fort Worth, TX 76111 82%1,304$60,194$216,400$188 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more single-family homes
Spokane, WA 99202 82%763$65,189$304,600$206 pricier homes ($30K more) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Portsmouth, VA 23702 81%2,385$48,835$208,000$184 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Broadview, IL 60155 81%1,734$64,566$252,200$240 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75223 81%1,334$73,318$265,100$271 smaller · older residents
Springfield, MA 01104 80%2,515$50,154$234,800$237 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Milwaukee, WI 53219 80%1,730$70,388$203,900$211 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55106 80%1,500$70,187$241,800$176 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.