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 80218

Denver: median income $81,706, home value $676,700, $398/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43212 88%1,160$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($143K less) · younger residents
Portland, OR 97210 86%984$93,621$991,200$376 pricier homes ($315K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19103 83%1,573$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 83%371$83,916$779,200$375 pricier homes ($103K more) · more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97232 83%980$70,895$781,200$326 pricier homes ($105K more) · more walkable · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95816 82%886$90,839$839,700$504 pricier homes ($163K more) · more single-family homes
New Orleans, LA 70130 80%1,080$80,212$562,800$325 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85012 79%582$86,620$735,000$370 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · newer homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 78%1,607$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($205K less) · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20024 78%1,490$107,411$526,700$367 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($150K less) · 6 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22204 78%1,486$107,941$688,000$418 higher income ($26K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22305 78%1,488$113,537$864,500$521 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($188K more)
Northampton, MA 01060 77%1,685$76,848$453,400$344 cheaper homes ($223K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 77%1,320$66,582$553,700$292 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller · younger residents
Portland, OR 97214 76%980$87,131$771,800$338 pricier homes ($95K more) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Sacramento, CA 95811 75%887$80,827$761,000$400 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller · more renters
Tacoma, WA 98403 75%1,016$88,056$829,800$391 pricier homes ($153K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Waltham, MA 02453 74%1,756$115,366$705,100$473 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 74%1,519$73,542$637,700$514 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19130 73%1,573$112,037$491,800$347 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger
Charleston, SC 29403 73%1,468$66,944$674,000$586 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Evanston, IL 60201 73%915$90,545$590,700$370 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · more homeowners
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 73%578$92,851$554,400$388 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger · more homeowners
Brighton, MA 02135 72%1,760$90,829$681,200$631 larger · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Towson, MD 21204 71%1,505$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more homeowners · more single-family 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.