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 Durham, NC 27701

Durham: median income $69,740, home value $508,900, $346/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85014 92%1,881$66,731$476,100$298 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85013 89%1,883$71,966$567,700$315 pricier homes ($59K more)
Richmond, VA 23230 87%135$74,763$372,900$292 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85003 87%1,883$60,461$616,800$389 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller
Austin, TX 78752 86%1,154$67,682$422,000$334 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 86%1,806$65,548$434,700$306 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Vancouver, WA 98660 86%2,352$67,344$469,600$329 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76107 85%1,076$79,990$431,200$280 cheaper homes ($78K less) · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80214 85%1,445$75,575$559,100$387 pricier homes ($50K more) · 6 min longer commute
Beaverton, OR 97005 85%2,358$78,239$504,300$299 Very close on everything we compare
Winooski, VT 05404 84%659$79,522$381,500$280 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84107 84%1,806$72,108$458,300$283 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · more homeowners
Loma Linda, CA 92354 84%2,160$83,847$564,400$356 pricier homes ($56K more)
Birmingham, AL 35209 83%482$71,439$504,600$311 more homeowners
Missoula, MT 59801 83%1,948$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77004 83%1,047$71,199$412,800$192 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Denver, CO 80204 83%1,443$84,829$620,500$401 pricier homes ($112K more) · newer homes
Austin, TX 78758 82%1,153$74,381$440,200$231 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · newer homes
Denver, CO 80222 81%1,438$86,472$623,400$359 pricier homes ($115K more) · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80231 81%1,435$76,502$500,600$232 5 min longer commute
Tempe, AZ 85282 81%1,876$79,036$412,000$279 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · more homeowners
Charleston, SC 29403 80%229$66,944$674,000$586 pricier homes ($165K more)
Atlanta, GA 30329 80%342$76,579$488,300$229 more apartments and townhomes
Minneapolis, MN 55413 80%975$85,282$371,600$249 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80223 80%1,442$79,151$539,900$355 pricier homes ($31K more) · 5 min longer commute · 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.