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 Dallas, TX 75218

Dallas: median income $107,366, home value $521,000, $329/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30317 94%717$107,955$541,100$351 younger residents
Orlando, FL 32804 92%955$113,231$561,000$351 pricier homes ($40K more)
Tacoma, WA 98406 91%1,676$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($117K more)
La Grange Park, IL 60526 90%787$120,308$439,800$308 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32806 89%958$89,046$441,300$288 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Portland, OR 97206 89%1,628$98,548$498,300$338 larger
Columbus, OH 43214 88%907$94,183$400,400$290 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97211 88%1,633$112,586$634,000$324 pricier homes ($113K more) · older homes
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 87%1,298$114,012$372,200$275 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 87%1,057$123,681$383,700$263 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Downers Grove, IL 60515 87%781$123,197$461,200$308 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Denver, CO 80207 87%661$115,542$705,200$390 pricier homes ($184K more)
Stamford, CT 06907 86%1,395$106,379$590,000$421 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32803 86%957$107,592$455,600$334 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 86%997$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97217 86%1,635$100,361$578,700$311 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97219 86%1,632$121,306$677,900$327 pricier homes ($157K more) · larger · newer homes
Henrico, VA 23229 85%1,134$107,854$485,400$303 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43221 85%903$118,768$446,900$279 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Wheaton, IL 60187 85%781$119,769$433,700$321 cheaper homes ($87K less) · younger residents
Chicago, IL 60631 85%797$115,000$436,400$280 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Portland, OR 97218 85%1,630$88,924$496,600$316 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98407 85%1,677$110,288$656,600$414 pricier homes ($136K more) · older residents
Bristol, RI 02809 84%1,518$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Boonton, NJ 07005 84%1,347$132,629$587,100$365 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($66K more) · less walkable

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.