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 Boise, ID 83702

Boise: median income $85,733, home value $777,100, $469/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Englewood, CO 80113 94%642$96,590$709,100$408 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85018 93%736$93,885$862,000$517 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Reno, NV 89509 92%341$86,126$703,700$385 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Austin, TX 78757 88%1,366$103,860$655,900$427 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Denver, CO 80222 85%643$86,472$623,400$359 cheaper homes ($154K less) · 6 min longer commute
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 85%625$96,824$973,000$656 pricier homes ($196K more)
Winter Park, FL 32789 84%2,183$106,671$791,400$464 more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37206 84%1,634$96,169$600,200$362 cheaper homes ($177K less) · younger residents
South Portland, ME 04106 83%2,267$86,188$438,800$367 cheaper homes ($338K less)
Bozeman, MT 59715 83%290$88,407$848,400$466 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · younger residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 82%297$83,916$779,200$375 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97225 82%348$114,598$751,700$319 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($25K less)
Middletown, RI 02842 81%2,263$101,948$563,300$392 cheaper homes ($214K less)
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 81%631$89,627$609,800$331 cheaper homes ($167K less) · 6 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 81%304$87,813$648,900$314 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more homeowners
Redlands, CA 92373 81%665$101,271$765,700$386 6 min longer commute
Honolulu, HI 96822 81%2,832$95,947$1,003,400$551 pricier homes ($226K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, ME 04103 80%2,265$89,796$459,500$356 cheaper homes ($318K less)
Denver, CO 80215 80%632$85,190$650,100$298 cheaper homes ($127K less) · 7 min longer commute
Corvallis, OR 97330 80%357$70,742$526,800$320 cheaper homes ($250K less) · larger · younger residents
Portsmouth, NH 03801 79%2,252$106,756$699,900$534 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75230 79%1,283$110,956$931,500$359 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($154K more)
San Antonio, TX 78209 79%1,382$86,514$497,000$266 cheaper homes ($280K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78731 79%1,365$105,494$903,200$420 pricier homes ($126K more)
Austin, TX 78756 79%1,367$94,701$832,000$500 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · younger residents

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.