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 83712

Boise: median income $105,574, home value $859,000, $416/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winter Park, FL 32789 88%2,180$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 83%346$130,603$837,100$364 higher income ($25K more) · larger
Neptune Beach, FL 32266 82%2,107$119,294$670,900$391 cheaper homes ($188K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Boca Raton, FL 33486 81%2,337$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · more homeowners
Shelburne, VT 05482 80%2,111$115,963$588,100$310 cheaper homes ($271K less)
Dallas, TX 75209 80%1,281$134,707$864,200$391 higher income ($29K more) · larger · younger residents
Dallas, TX 75230 80%1,280$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Englewood, CO 80113 79%639$96,590$709,100$408 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · younger residents
Los Osos, CA 93402 78%624$109,090$806,800$643 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · more homeowners
Middletown, RI 02842 77%2,261$101,948$563,300$392 cheaper homes ($296K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37205 77%1,628$139,152$953,300$403 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Austin, TX 78731 77%1,362$105,494$903,200$420 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Austin, TX 78757 77%1,363$103,860$655,900$427 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger · younger residents
Asheville, NC 28804 76%1,857$88,312$566,000$324 cheaper homes ($293K less) · larger
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704 76%2,154$107,889$753,600$451 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 76%726$123,203$785,700$426 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Reno, NV 89509 76%341$86,126$703,700$385 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92119 76%748$113,435$879,200$605 larger · 7 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97225 76%351$114,598$751,700$319 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · younger residents
Stowe, VT 05672 75%2,134$93,618$647,800$433 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Portsmouth, RI 02871 74%2,261$116,831$597,000$392 cheaper homes ($262K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Fairfield, NJ 07004 74%2,127$115,980$688,500$393 cheaper homes ($171K less) · more homeowners
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 74%728$97,177$698,200$400 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Tucson, AZ 85718 74%830$114,892$712,400$308 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · older residents
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 74%493$105,437$903,900$522 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger

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.