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 83713

Boise: median income $91,295, home value $454,100, $273/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Albany, OR 97321 96%344$99,416$473,100$267 Very close on everything we compare
Traverse City, MI 49685 95%1,516$84,590$358,500$261 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Greenacres, WA 99016 93%281$103,472$477,400$263 Very close on everything we compare
Glendale, AZ 85308 92%725$95,247$458,100$261 larger
Clovis, CA 93611 92%502$110,982$485,900$270 pricier homes ($32K more)
Gilbert, AZ 85233 90%752$111,160$513,000$290 pricier homes ($59K more) · 6 min longer commute
Salem, OR 97304 90%345$98,031$499,300$260 pricier homes ($45K more) · more renters
Saint George, UT 84790 89%476$91,054$552,700$258 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Longwood, FL 32750 88%2,185$86,125$383,000$234 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Las Vegas, NV 89129 88%514$89,798$448,800$246 larger · 6 min longer commute
Salem, OR 97306 88%342$101,753$463,100$267 more apartments and townhomes
Vancouver, WA 98686 88%341$107,801$596,700$294 pricier homes ($143K more)
Melbourne, FL 32904 87%2,244$90,673$366,300$208 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Lakeland, FL 33813 87%2,189$99,497$366,300$202 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Fort Myers, FL 33967 87%2,261$90,519$364,400$233 cheaper homes ($90K less) · 6 min longer commute
Tucson, AZ 85748 87%845$95,750$368,700$221 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Albuquerque, NM 87113 87%781$95,922$385,200$248 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Albuquerque, NM 87120 87%779$86,907$300,600$209 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger
Indio, CA 92203 87%683$97,311$553,700$263 pricier homes ($100K more) · less walkable
Richland, WA 99352 87%231$100,108$474,100$263 more apartments and townhomes
Mc Farland, WI 53558 86%1,354$107,609$405,300$253 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Sandy, UT 84094 86%312$106,732$528,700$264 pricier homes ($75K more) · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85042 86%746$88,717$398,000$250 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents
Mesa, AZ 85213 86%746$103,969$438,900$270 more apartments and townhomes
Gilbert, AZ 85234 86%752$121,102$550,900$291 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($97K 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.