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 Asheville, NC 28804

Asheville: median income $88,312, home value $566,000, $324/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charleston, SC 29412 92%251$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Eugene, OR 97405 92%2,203$95,170$537,600$311 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Missoula, MT 59803 90%1,792$111,925$556,000$283 Very close on everything we compare
Cedarburg, WI 53012 88%604$96,090$422,700$273 cheaper homes ($143K less)
Bellingham, WA 98229 88%2,200$90,945$633,500$390 pricier homes ($68K more) · less walkable
Olympia, WA 98501 88%2,206$97,198$529,300$299 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 87%1,241$89,984$574,100$224 Very close on everything we compare
Boise, ID 83703 87%1,861$76,910$508,000$353 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more walkable
Portland, OR 97224 87%2,193$98,125$599,600$288 pricier homes ($34K more)
Olympia, WA 98506 87%2,206$91,596$490,900$298 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents
Spokane, WA 99223 87%1,957$94,279$490,500$213 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Henrico, VA 23229 85%313$107,854$485,400$303 cheaper homes ($81K less) · older homes
Saint Petersburg, FL 33703 85%540$95,224$441,400$322 cheaper homes ($125K less) · older homes
Metairie, LA 70005 85%587$89,194$430,200$249 cheaper homes ($136K less) · older homes
Austin, TX 78736 85%964$93,805$573,100$293 smaller · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Fort Collins, CO 80524 85%1,266$85,035$561,400$274 larger · younger residents
Garden City, ID 83714 85%1,863$87,651$496,800$336 cheaper homes ($69K less) · newer homes
Hood River, OR 97031 85%2,133$91,858$691,200$409 pricier homes ($125K more)
Olympia, WA 98502 85%2,215$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more renters
Orlando, FL 32806 84%497$89,046$441,300$288 cheaper homes ($125K less) · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 84%1,617$115,515$659,900$294 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85044 84%1,677$96,820$474,800$281 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Philomath, OR 97370 84%2,219$88,091$463,200$279 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Essex Junction, VT 05452 83%790$101,349$432,400$265 cheaper homes ($134K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Middlebury, VT 05753 83%762$91,659$416,900$258 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller · younger 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.