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 Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Colorado Springs: median income $87,685, home value $442,200, $208/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Virginia Beach, VA 23464 94%1,561$92,468$355,800$230 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Spokane, WA 99208 94%879$88,599$450,800$205 older residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 93%1,564$79,085$346,600$250 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 93%1,566$93,838$336,900$234 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 92%1,561$94,069$418,000$247 Very close on everything we compare
Grandville, MI 49418 92%1,028$84,846$321,700$212 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55443 92%726$95,082$370,800$179 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 91%1,568$102,796$416,700$262 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Waukesha, WI 53188 91%905$92,409$348,600$237 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older residents
Ogden, UT 84405 91%412$84,106$425,100$203 Very close on everything we compare
Spokane, WA 99206 91%869$81,764$404,100$206 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Newark, DE 19711 90%1,546$95,403$398,900$217 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55112 90%731$93,838$358,500$200 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Garland, TX 75044 90%612$92,178$344,300$190 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 6 min longer commute
Layton, UT 84041 90%409$89,604$443,100$229 newer homes
Chandler, AZ 85225 90%552$88,676$430,400$283 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, OR 97304 90%1,026$98,031$499,300$260 pricier homes ($57K more)
Vancouver, WA 98664 90%1,018$85,369$467,200$296 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 89%1,029$81,657$306,700$207 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Burnsville, MN 55337 89%716$84,110$349,100$180 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Ogden, UT 84401 89%412$80,758$439,900$223 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85042 89%556$88,717$398,000$250 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Sparks, NV 89434 89%800$91,507$457,000$302 smaller
Fresno, CA 93727 89%827$87,466$395,800$255 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Bremerton, WA 98312 89%1,078$90,449$473,100$290 pricier homes ($31K more) · 5 min longer 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.