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 Alpine, UT 84004

Alpine: median income $170,500, home value $980,300, $289/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Duvall, WA 98019 90%711$161,212$826,600$421 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Windham, NH 03087 89%2,076$189,583$723,300$322 cheaper homes ($257K less) · larger
Carnation, WA 98014 89%706$164,306$940,600$446 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Snohomish, WA 98296 89%722$177,583$927,700$406 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Purcellville, VA 20132 88%1,798$181,875$776,300$274 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Monument, CO 80132 87%379$161,670$773,100$225 cheaper homes ($207K less) · larger
Fresno, CA 93730 87%496$155,333$728,100$304 cheaper homes ($252K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Jamison, PA 18929 85%1,917$179,380$627,700$274 cheaper homes ($353K less)
Littleton, CO 80125 85%362$179,983$762,200$231 cheaper homes ($218K less)
North Bend, WA 98045 85%693$175,765$938,500$494 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Hamilton, VA 20158 84%1,802$211,522$765,800$291 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($215K less) · smaller
Hamel, MN 55340 84%974$178,553$639,100$234 cheaper homes ($341K less)
Driftwood, TX 78619 84%1,052$183,393$810,600$339 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85083 84%465$149,087$612,700$267 cheaper homes ($368K less) · larger
Boyds, MD 20841 83%1,818$184,688$782,500$292 cheaper homes ($198K less) · older residents
Davidsonville, MD 21035 83%1,858$188,347$831,500$273 cheaper homes ($149K less) · older residents · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 83%2,051$172,730$909,000$395 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents
Oakland, MI 48363 83%1,479$179,375$618,200$226 cheaper homes ($362K less)
Austin, TX 78737 83%1,051$168,920$765,000$270 cheaper homes ($215K less) · larger
Golden, CO 80403 83%345$151,276$838,000$344 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · older residents
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742 83%519$155,855$634,200$276 cheaper homes ($346K less) · larger · more walkable
Dunkirk, MD 20754 82%1,861$167,371$614,200$220 cheaper homes ($366K less) · older homes
Marriottsville, MD 21104 82%1,837$191,804$680,200$243 cheaper homes ($300K less) · smaller
Boca Raton, FL 33498 82%2,047$146,765$656,700$333 cheaper homes ($324K less) · larger · older residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80927 82%392$163,803$587,100$210 cheaper homes ($393K less) · younger residents

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.