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 80246

Denver: median income $67,235, home value $716,400, $405/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sacramento, CA 95811 92%889$80,827$761,000$400 pricier homes ($45K more)
Portland, OR 97232 90%983$70,895$781,200$326 pricier homes ($65K more)
Portland, OR 97201 89%985$63,250$673,600$303 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 83%374$52,952$440,200$399 cheaper homes ($276K less)
Durham, NC 27701 80%1,438$69,740$508,900$346 cheaper homes ($208K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78752 80%766$67,682$422,000$334 cheaper homes ($294K less) · larger
Glendale, CA 91203 80%829$82,364$728,700$615 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, VA 22311 79%1,483$87,626$760,300$379 pricier homes ($44K more) · less walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85003 79%586$60,461$616,800$389 cheaper homes ($100K less) · older residents
Pasadena, CA 91101 79%823$87,813$682,300$636 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Carrboro, NC 27510 78%1,430$61,837$449,700$282 cheaper homes ($267K less) · less walkable
Montrose, CA 91020 78%825$72,125$911,200$580 pricier homes ($195K more) · smaller · older residents
Oakland, CA 94612 78%942$74,037$827,800$439 pricier homes ($111K more) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98402 78%1,018$60,505$531,300$438 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 77%373$52,199$548,700$364 cheaper homes ($168K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95814 77%890$58,284$633,200$355 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents
Portland, OR 97205 77%985$57,288$637,100$387 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older residents · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30329 76%1,208$76,579$488,300$229 cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85012 76%583$86,620$735,000$370 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
North Hollywood, CA 91601 76%834$79,607$1,000,000$637 pricier homes ($284K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120 75%1,762$64,289$885,900$485 pricier homes ($170K more) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Charleston, SC 29403 75%1,466$66,944$674,000$586 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Addison, TX 75001 75%648$73,514$468,800$259 cheaper homes ($248K less) · newer homes
Raleigh, NC 27601 74%1,457$71,350$579,500$387 cheaper homes ($137K less) · newer homes
Raleigh, NC 27605 73%1,455$71,096$540,000$389 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute

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.