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 83706

Boise: median income $82,893, home value $537,700, $364/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Corvallis, OR 97333 90%358$65,191$511,100$351 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Corvallis, OR 97330 89%358$70,742$526,800$320 Very close on everything we compare
Charlottesville, VA 22903 87%1,991$69,340$526,200$304 Very close on everything we compare
Tempe, AZ 85283 87%743$84,568$442,800$298 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Loma Linda, CA 92354 87%661$83,847$564,400$356 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35209 86%1,724$71,439$504,600$311 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Nashville, TN 37206 86%1,633$96,169$600,200$362 pricier homes ($63K more) · older homes
Nashville, TN 37209 86%1,628$81,423$529,800$333 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Fort Collins, CO 80526 86%605$88,686$551,800$273 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85016 86%732$87,850$564,900$363 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Missoula, MT 59802 85%252$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · older residents
Austin, TX 78721 85%1,369$84,573$523,000$328 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Raleigh, NC 27609 84%2,048$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents
Durham, NC 27707 84%2,029$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Bozeman, MT 59715 84%291$88,407$848,400$466 pricier homes ($311K more)
Richardson, TX 75080 84%1,280$92,903$447,100$272 cheaper homes ($91K less) · 6 min longer commute
Fort Worth, TX 76107 84%1,262$79,990$431,200$280 cheaper homes ($107K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78745 84%1,368$86,109$504,800$291 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older residents
Provo, UT 84604 84%327$75,571$582,000$250 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents
Charlottesville, VA 22902 83%1,992$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller · older residents
Chattanooga, TN 37405 83%1,740$81,337$460,600$297 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · older residents
Tempe, AZ 85282 83%741$79,036$412,000$279 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger
Flagstaff, AZ 86005 83%630$87,942$599,900$420 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28205 82%1,960$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30341 82%1,831$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 8 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes

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.