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 Portland, ME 04103

Portland: median income $89,796, home value $459,500, $356/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43209 94%699$89,713$392,500$256 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 93%2,115$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($108K more)
Columbus, OH 43214 92%701$94,183$400,400$290 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55426 91%1,141$99,347$364,600$237 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 91%2,330$86,962$506,300$368 pricier homes ($47K more)
Orlando, FL 32803 90%1,212$107,592$455,600$334 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53226 90%891$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63132 90%1,097$87,385$417,000$270 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Charleston, SC 29407 89%917$85,367$451,800$356 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55116 89%1,131$81,141$418,200$260 cheaper homes ($41K less)
San Antonio, TX 78209 89%1,832$86,514$497,000$266 pricier homes ($38K more)
Portland, OR 97218 89%2,530$88,924$496,600$316 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32804 88%1,212$113,231$561,000$351 pricier homes ($102K more)
Nashville, TN 37206 88%1,012$96,169$600,200$362 pricier homes ($141K more)
Portland, OR 97217 88%2,533$100,361$578,700$311 pricier homes ($119K more)
Lexington, KY 40502 87%837$76,948$517,900$253 pricier homes ($58K more)
Austin, TX 78757 87%1,760$103,860$655,900$427 pricier homes ($196K more)
Englewood, CO 80113 87%1,798$96,590$709,100$408 pricier homes ($250K more)
Denver, CO 80215 87%1,803$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($191K more) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 87%2,115$87,813$648,900$314 pricier homes ($189K more) · newer homes
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 86%285$104,663$428,600$403 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Little Falls, NJ 07424 86%279$105,050$487,600$384 pricier homes ($28K more)
Orlando, FL 32806 86%1,214$89,046$441,300$288 more single-family homes
Rocky River, OH 44116 86%607$93,799$349,300$246 cheaper homes ($110K less) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75208 86%1,617$81,950$438,400$281 Very close on everything we compare

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.