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.

Reset

Towns most like Salt Lake City, UT 84103

Salt Lake City: median income $83,916, home value $779,200, $375/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80222 88%374$86,472$623,400$359 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Austin, TX 78756 85%1,071$94,701$832,000$500 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Denver, CO 80206 84%372$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($136K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85012 84%502$86,620$735,000$370 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · newer homes
Denver, CO 80205 83%371$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($130K less) · 6 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80218 83%371$81,706$676,700$398 cheaper homes ($103K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Sacramento, CA 95816 83%532$90,839$839,700$504 pricier homes ($61K more) · more renters · more walkable
Nashville, TN 37206 82%1,391$96,169$600,200$362 cheaper homes ($179K less) · more single-family homes
Madison, WI 53705 82%1,160$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($304K less)
Boise, ID 83702 82%297$85,733$777,100$469 older residents · more single-family homes
Towson, MD 21204 81%1,854$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($184K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43212 81%1,511$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($246K less)
San Antonio, TX 78209 81%1,086$86,514$497,000$266 cheaper homes ($282K less) · larger
Englewood, CO 80113 81%373$96,590$709,100$408 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more single-family homes
Birmingham, AL 35209 80%1,464$71,439$504,600$311 cheaper homes ($275K less) · newer homes
Houston, TX 77079 80%1,189$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Boulder, CO 80301 80%354$95,207$793,200$376 more homeowners · newer homes
Boulder, CO 80303 80%353$78,555$961,900$467 pricier homes ($183K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85016 80%503$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($214K less) · larger · newer homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 80%503$92,851$554,400$388 cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger · newer homes
Charleston, SC 29403 79%1,839$66,944$674,000$586 cheaper homes ($105K less) · younger residents
Evanston, IL 60201 79%1,252$90,545$590,700$370 cheaper homes ($189K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Waltham, MA 02453 77%2,084$115,366$705,100$473 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($74K less)
Arlington, VA 22204 77%1,838$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Raleigh, NC 27609 77%1,823$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($308K less) · newer 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.