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 83703

Boise: median income $76,910, home value $508,000, $353/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Asheville, NC 28805 90%1,866$75,151$412,500$281 cheaper homes ($96K less) · less walkable
Albuquerque, NM 87104 89%781$75,436$362,500$273 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Asheville, NC 28803 88%1,867$76,662$452,900$306 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Missoula, MT 59804 88%242$76,266$588,400$351 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Asheville, NC 28804 87%1,861$88,312$566,000$324 pricier homes ($58K more) · less walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85044 87%750$96,820$474,800$281 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Olympia, WA 98502 86%407$92,207$537,200$326 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
South Portland, ME 04106 85%2,269$86,188$438,800$367 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 85%307$87,813$648,900$314 pricier homes ($141K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 85%634$81,172$509,900$381 larger · less walkable
Salem, OR 97302 85%347$85,833$446,400$268 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · older homes
Ashland, OR 97520 85%341$67,948$580,400$315 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · older residents
Olympia, WA 98501 85%396$97,198$529,300$299 larger
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 84%2,110$89,185$452,700$340 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Orlando, FL 32806 84%2,189$89,046$441,300$288 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80904 84%678$69,814$440,000$264 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older homes
Beaverton, OR 97008 84%345$96,116$578,100$338 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Charlottesville, VA 22902 83%1,994$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Charleston, SC 29407 83%2,086$85,367$451,800$356 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older homes
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 83%2,320$94,530$497,400$367 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Austin, TX 78721 83%1,375$84,573$523,000$328 smaller · younger residents · more renters
Littleton, CO 80120 83%644$94,296$628,300$289 pricier homes ($120K more) · larger
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 83%742$86,962$506,300$368 larger · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Reno, NV 89509 83%342$86,126$703,700$385 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger
Hood River, OR 97031 83%295$91,858$691,200$409 pricier homes ($183K more) · 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.