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 Portsmouth, VA 23703

Portsmouth: median income $78,707, home value $295,900, $200/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 96%652$81,657$306,700$207 Very close on everything we compare
Valparaiso, IN 46383 95%653$76,224$279,900$179 larger
Lees Summit, MO 64063 95%988$80,459$263,000$174 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Indianola, IA 50125 94%970$84,848$258,900$219 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Mandan, ND 58554 94%1,429$80,120$277,900$165 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Charles, MO 63301 94%781$85,308$267,600$190 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Idaho Falls, ID 83402 94%1,922$74,517$334,900$168 pricier homes ($39K more)
Gettysburg, PA 17325 93%210$80,948$287,200$191 older residents
York, PA 17402 93%214$81,166$250,400$166 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Newark, DE 19713 93%197$76,493$292,600$215 Very close on everything we compare
Brandon, FL 33510 93%705$74,245$328,200$216 pricier homes ($32K more)
Comstock Park, MI 49321 93%651$77,870$274,400$203 smaller
Kenosha, WI 53142 93%725$88,960$268,100$202 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Appleton, WI 54914 93%812$79,875$237,400$180 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Bourbonnais, IL 60914 93%684$86,223$255,300$175 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Blue Springs, MO 64014 93%983$90,337$251,400$182 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Metairie, LA 70006 93%925$76,505$344,800$167 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37918 92%422$69,752$274,900$211 larger
Sterling Heights, MI 48313 92%529$88,065$266,900$175 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Baraboo, WI 53913 92%839$74,629$234,900$177 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents
Rochester, MN 55904 92%973$77,016$253,600$186 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 92%1,099$76,138$272,400$161 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Springs, MO 64015 92%986$84,518$268,900$160 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Brenham, TX 77833 92%1,239$73,388$280,500$172 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Albans, VT 05478 91%575$71,203$316,400$224 smaller · older residents

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.