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 Fort Collins, CO 80524

Fort Collins: median income $85,035, home value $561,400, $274/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olympia, WA 98501 93%990$97,198$529,300$299 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Olympia, WA 98502 93%1,000$92,207$537,200$326 Very close on everything we compare
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 90%513$81,172$509,900$381 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Chico, CA 95973 90%887$92,813$489,900$313 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Spokane, WA 99223 90%778$94,279$490,500$213 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents
Newark, DE 19711 89%1,543$95,403$398,900$217 cheaper homes ($163K less) · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32224 89%1,501$88,259$458,100$265 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85024 89%614$106,724$471,000$303 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Richland, WA 99352 89%812$100,108$474,100$263 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 88%1,579$102,796$416,700$262 cheaper homes ($145K less)
Asheville, NC 28803 88%1,271$76,662$452,900$306 cheaper homes ($109K less) · older residents
Charleston, SC 29412 88%1,488$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 88%833$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($182K less)
Fresno, CA 93720 88%833$105,050$477,800$275 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Tualatin, OR 97062 88%951$105,407$640,300$293 pricier homes ($79K more)
Salem, OR 97306 88%957$101,753$463,100$267 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Bellingham, WA 98229 88%1,016$90,945$633,500$390 pricier homes ($72K more)
Essex Junction, VT 05452 87%1,639$101,349$432,400$265 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · older residents
Oviedo, FL 32765 87%1,580$102,167$447,900$246 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32819 87%1,576$98,109$489,700$278 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Reno, NV 89523 87%788$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Maitland, FL 32751 86%1,573$95,387$453,700$291 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37919 86%1,184$72,645$526,800$258 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older homes
North Salt Lake, UT 84054 86%360$101,860$505,500$265 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85044 86%631$96,820$474,800$281 cheaper homes ($87K less) · older residents · more 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.