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 84116

Salt Lake City: median income $66,751, home value $381,300, $276/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fresno, CA 93710 96%503$65,851$372,800$248 Very close on everything we compare
Kennewick, WA 99336 95%521$62,527$324,400$240 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Bakersfield, CA 93309 94%540$63,544$320,400$230 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Clovis, CA 93612 94%501$66,683$341,000$284 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more renters
Albany, OR 97322 94%623$69,808$352,900$280 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Eugene, OR 97402 94%615$57,658$357,700$289 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85202 93%511$71,619$370,900$255 Very close on everything we compare
Sparks, NV 89431 93%422$66,592$365,100$294 Very close on everything we compare
Reno, NV 89503 93%426$66,743$467,200$298 pricier homes ($86K more)
Gresham, OR 97030 92%621$69,239$435,700$254 pricier homes ($54K more)
Salem, OR 97305 92%627$66,326$372,200$277 5 min longer commute
West Palm Beach, FL 33407 91%2,055$59,993$342,000$319 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80916 91%405$67,127$326,300$219 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Mesa, AZ 85203 91%508$73,578$439,100$262 pricier homes ($58K more) · 5 min longer commute
Mesa, AZ 85204 91%510$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Mesa, AZ 85210 91%511$61,957$337,800$260 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min longer commute
Springfield, OR 97477 91%608$65,662$373,000$279 older residents
Medford, OR 97501 91%577$63,977$353,800$260 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Marietta, GA 30060 90%1,569$67,510$316,000$231 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 6 min longer commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 90%404$61,969$320,300$198 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Vancouver, WA 98661 90%634$76,913$451,500$289 pricier homes ($70K more)
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 89%2,074$64,819$377,500$330 6 min longer commute
West Palm Beach, FL 33403 89%2,052$70,646$368,800$272 smaller
Houston, TX 77080 89%1,192$62,134$345,000$199 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 6 min longer commute
Salem, OR 97301 89%630$60,422$341,000$260 cheaper homes ($40K less)

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.