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 North Salt Lake, UT 84054

North Salt Lake: median income $101,860, home value $505,500, $265/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85024 95%496$106,724$471,000$303 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Belgrade, MT 59714 94%343$96,183$548,600$316 pricier homes ($43K more)
Pineville, NC 28134 90%1,727$85,681$383,800$230 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Chaska, MN 55318 90%965$112,243$420,400$211 cheaper homes ($85K less) · older residents
Sioux Falls, SD 57110 90%803$88,955$396,100$206 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Rogers, AR 72758 90%1,007$99,147$407,600$226 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Bentonville, AR 72712 89%1,003$110,514$471,700$254 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Chico, CA 95973 89%529$92,813$489,900$313 larger · older residents
Beaverton, OR 97003 89%638$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Olympia, WA 98516 89%691$98,892$572,500$322 pricier homes ($67K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 88%1,173$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · older residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80923 88%405$101,565$475,800$203 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Salem, OR 97306 88%628$101,753$463,100$267 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older residents
Richland, WA 99352 88%525$100,108$474,100$263 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Ankeny, IA 50021 87%953$99,572$317,200$229 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Appleton, WI 54913 87%1,214$105,385$393,400$212 cheaper homes ($112K less) · older residents
Idaho Falls, ID 83406 87%182$86,991$392,200$177 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Suffolk, VA 23435 86%1,914$111,700$394,500$215 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · older residents
Amarillo, TX 79119 86%672$114,432$366,000$191 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Fort Collins, CO 80524 86%360$85,035$561,400$274 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · older homes
Veradale, WA 99037 86%537$87,713$459,500$206 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Ankeny, IA 50023 85%950$117,826$345,100$231 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger
Waukee, IA 50263 85%938$102,762$352,800$241 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 85%990$111,967$540,900$207 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · older residents
Shakopee, MN 55379 85%969$106,312$379,700$201 cheaper homes ($126K less) · 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.