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 Orem, UT 84097

Orem: median income $94,194, home value $556,300, $217/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chandler, AZ 85226 80%483$114,817$483,800$303 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · older residents
Middlebury, VT 05753 79%1,971$91,659$416,900$258 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · older residents
Spokane, WA 99223 79%579$94,279$490,500$213 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older residents
Fort Collins, CO 80524 78%348$85,035$561,400$274 larger · older residents · less walkable
Fort Collins, CO 80526 78%346$88,686$551,800$273 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85024 78%459$106,724$471,000$303 cheaper homes ($85K less) · less walkable
Fresno, CA 93711 78%501$104,176$494,200$250 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · older residents
Woodland, CA 95776 78%548$106,698$575,700$304 older residents · newer homes
Salem, OR 97304 78%662$98,031$499,300$260 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · older residents
Salem, OR 97306 78%658$101,753$463,100$267 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · older residents
Richland, WA 99352 78%562$100,108$474,100$263 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · older residents
Richland, WA 99354 78%566$91,933$392,600$221 cheaper homes ($164K less) · older residents · older homes
Newark, DE 19711 77%1,889$95,403$398,900$217 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30360 77%1,565$97,543$425,700$227 cheaper homes ($131K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 77%379$89,984$574,100$224 larger · older residents · less walkable
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 77%379$87,685$442,200$208 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · older residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80920 77%379$113,036$518,400$205 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85042 77%478$88,717$398,000$250 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · older residents
Olympia, WA 98501 77%726$97,198$529,300$299 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older residents
Richardson, TX 75080 76%968$92,903$447,100$272 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · more renters
West Sacramento, CA 95691 76%540$104,750$555,800$300 larger · older residents · newer homes
Lincoln, NE 68516 75%788$100,821$354,000$170 cheaper homes ($202K less) · larger · older residents
Austin, TX 78721 75%1,047$84,573$523,000$328 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · more renters
Broomfield, CO 80020 75%350$117,243$601,800$262 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · older residents
Westminster, CO 80031 75%352$107,422$535,300$249 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute

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.