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.

Reset

Towns most like Denver, CO 80206

Denver: median income $101,594, home value $915,400, $427/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98119 86%1,024$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($132K more)
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 84%372$83,916$779,200$375 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Portland, OR 97210 84%984$93,621$991,200$376 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · more renters
Portland, OR 97239 84%983$110,134$772,700$321 cheaper homes ($143K less) · newer homes
Miami Beach, FL 33140 83%1,723$107,063$866,900$623 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Alexandria, VA 22302 82%1,485$123,539$631,100$441 cheaper homes ($284K less) · 6 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78756 82%767$94,701$832,000$500 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Evanston, IL 60201 81%914$90,545$590,700$370 cheaper homes ($325K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77079 81%868$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($236K less) · larger · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22204 80%1,485$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30305 80%1,206$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($178K less) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33129 80%1,723$113,367$736,300$632 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98103 80%1,024$131,154$1,044,100$570 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($129K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98144 80%1,019$96,969$901,700$489 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Waltham, MA 02453 79%1,755$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($210K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30306 79%1,209$123,077$799,800$389 cheaper homes ($116K less) · more single-family homes
Towson, MD 21204 78%1,504$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($321K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85012 78%583$86,620$735,000$370 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92103 78%833$102,626$1,061,200$755 pricier homes ($146K more)
Bellevue, WA 98007 78%1,014$131,109$1,018,100$543 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($103K more) · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22305 77%1,487$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more renters
Charlotte, NC 28209 77%1,354$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($292K less) · newer homes
West Hollywood, CA 90069 77%837$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($160K more) · older residents
Emeryville, CA 94608 77%941$120,239$849,600$508 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min longer commute · more renters
Watertown, MA 02472 76%1,758$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($131K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes

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.