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 Denver, CO 80237

Denver: median income $85,705, home value $582,500, $241/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Towson, MD 21204 88%1,502$99,606$594,800$261 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30341 88%1,205$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77025 88%872$81,008$586,600$215 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30324 87%1,203$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($80K less) · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30329 87%1,205$76,579$488,300$229 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more renters
Dallas, TX 75252 87%643$85,000$580,600$241 more single-family homes
Raleigh, NC 27609 86%1,453$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77004 86%872$71,199$412,800$192 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 86%576$92,851$554,400$388 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21209 85%1,498$91,437$440,800$215 cheaper homes ($142K less) · more homeowners
Fort Worth, TX 76107 85%634$79,990$431,200$280 cheaper homes ($151K less) · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77079 85%862$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85012 85%581$86,620$735,000$370 pricier homes ($153K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43220 84%1,156$74,298$473,500$241 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85016 84%580$87,850$564,900$363 larger
Raleigh, NC 27606 83%1,451$78,371$457,900$247 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30312 83%1,204$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($52K less) · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55413 83%699$85,282$371,600$249 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller · older homes
Winooski, VT 05404 82%1,650$79,522$381,500$280 cheaper homes ($201K less) · smaller
Cockeysville, MD 21030 82%1,497$89,015$450,700$233 cheaper homes ($132K less) · less walkable
Alexandria, VA 22304 82%1,482$101,600$508,200$320 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22312 82%1,480$109,272$604,200$325 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30350 82%1,199$88,118$516,000$194 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · less walkable
Austin, TX 78723 82%763$100,329$562,300$355 larger · more single-family homes
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 81%1,573$100,697$613,600$349 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 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.