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 Salt Lake City, UT 84115

Salt Lake City: median income $65,548, home value $434,700, $306/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85014 92%498$66,731$476,100$298 pricier homes ($41K more)
Beaverton, OR 97005 92%641$78,239$504,300$299 pricier homes ($70K more)
Mesa, AZ 85201 89%503$67,294$328,800$252 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Mesa, AZ 85202 89%506$71,619$370,900$255 cheaper homes ($64K less) · more homeowners
West Palm Beach, FL 33403 88%2,049$70,646$368,800$272 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85008 88%501$66,353$358,000$288 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Reno, NV 89502 88%425$65,328$413,200$310 larger
Fresno, CA 93710 88%502$65,851$372,800$248 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more single-family homes
Sacramento, CA 95825 88%527$64,602$440,200$292 more renters
Sacramento, CA 95841 88%522$61,054$424,500$289 7 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33607 87%1,882$69,694$354,400$292 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85021 87%494$59,768$470,400$321 pricier homes ($36K more) · 8 min longer commute
Tempe, AZ 85282 87%506$79,036$412,000$279 larger
Reno, NV 89503 87%427$66,743$467,200$298 pricier homes ($33K more) · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98188 87%693$76,438$456,400$323 Very close on everything we compare
Lowell, MA 01854 86%2,077$72,709$412,000$330 7 min longer commute · older homes
Durham, NC 27701 86%1,806$69,740$508,900$346 pricier homes ($74K more)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 86%2,072$66,100$383,400$347 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 7 min longer commute
Las Vegas, NV 89146 86%364$62,899$452,000$242 older residents
Gresham, OR 97030 86%625$69,239$435,700$254 Very close on everything we compare
Vancouver, WA 98661 86%638$76,913$451,500$289 larger
Denver, CO 80214 85%366$75,575$559,100$387 pricier homes ($124K more) · 6 min longer commute
Anchorage, AK 99501 85%2,125$70,891$379,100$265 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · older residents
Nashville, TN 37210 84%1,393$50,284$355,600$315 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85013 84%498$71,966$567,700$315 pricier homes ($133K more) · older residents · 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.