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 83716

Boise: median income $128,822, home value $611,300, $345/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thompsons Station, TN 37179 91%1,626$136,188$570,200$296 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Billings, MT 59106 89%391$125,833$496,500$246 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Camas, WA 98607 88%348$128,318$702,100$328 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · more walkable
Stilwell, KS 66085 87%1,152$152,500$538,300$241 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Crozet, VA 22932 86%1,966$115,545$548,500$269 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Dexter, MI 48130 86%1,614$129,254$480,500$249 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85050 86%713$139,836$618,600$335 larger · more walkable
Windermere, FL 34786 85%2,165$134,214$684,400$308 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · more walkable
Knoxville, TN 37922 85%1,762$132,807$523,800$245 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
Plain City, OH 43064 85%1,690$139,591$461,900$230 cheaper homes ($149K less) · younger residents
Roanoke, TX 76262 85%1,245$151,250$577,100$248 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Yorktown, VA 23693 84%2,108$124,433$488,400$225 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Apex, NC 27539 84%2,030$145,947$565,600$237 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min longer commute
Ponte Vedra, FL 32081 84%2,104$131,624$642,500$295 pricier homes ($31K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Sarasota, FL 34240 84%2,177$130,148$698,800$334 pricier homes ($88K more) · older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89138 84%510$161,645$745,400$338 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($134K more) · more walkable
Ridgefield, WA 98642 84%365$120,822$652,400$301 pricier homes ($41K more)
Tyngsboro, MA 01879 83%2,221$129,348$552,500$331 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · older homes
Franklin, TN 37064 83%1,623$127,771$735,100$361 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · more walkable
Parker, CO 80138 83%644$145,013$723,600$230 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Reno, NV 89521 83%345$127,181$667,700$359 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · more walkable
Gig Harbor, WA 98335 83%414$128,592$791,100$401 pricier homes ($180K more) · more walkable · older homes
Cranston, RI 02921 82%2,236$147,204$535,800$293 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · older homes
Midlothian, VA 23113 82%2,037$142,344$614,100$235 Very close on everything we compare
Knoxville, TN 37934 82%1,759$132,264$529,100$241 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more walkable · older homes

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.