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 84121

Salt Lake City: median income $115,515, home value $659,900, $294/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75229 92%981$121,469$631,700$335 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Arvada, CO 80004 92%356$103,659$616,700$268 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Littleton, CO 80122 91%368$128,691$634,400$256 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Portland, OR 97219 91%644$121,306$677,900$327 Very close on everything we compare
Cary, NC 27511 89%1,812$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($204K less)
Littleton, CO 80123 89%360$105,932$620,100$284 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Fresno, CA 93711 88%507$104,176$494,200$250 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Beaverton, OR 97007 88%651$123,533$608,800$288 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Portland, OR 97223 88%647$106,757$600,300$312 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more renters
Portland, OR 97224 88%647$98,125$599,600$288 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Broomfield, CO 80020 87%357$117,243$601,800$262 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Fair Oaks, CA 95628 87%522$115,803$651,400$340 7 min longer commute
Henrico, VA 23229 86%1,846$107,854$485,400$303 cheaper homes ($175K less) · less walkable · older homes
Missoula, MT 59803 86%443$111,925$556,000$283 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · less walkable
Westminster, CO 80031 86%359$107,422$535,300$249 cheaper homes ($125K less) · 6 min longer commute
Roseville, CA 95661 86%519$105,925$687,800$366 pricier homes ($28K more) · more renters
Rocklin, CA 95677 86%518$105,713$654,200$349 newer homes
Edmonds, WA 98026 86%721$133,638$821,700$450 pricier homes ($162K more) · 5 min longer commute
Olympia, WA 98501 86%707$97,198$529,300$299 cheaper homes ($131K less) · more renters
Wilmington, DE 19810 85%1,901$112,775$440,600$239 cheaper homes ($219K less)
Annandale, VA 22003 85%1,829$138,794$732,400$338 pricier homes ($73K more) · 6 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28226 85%1,722$118,606$617,600$282 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Charleston, SC 29412 85%1,835$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($155K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85048 85%505$122,833$592,100$289 cheaper homes ($68K less) · newer homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 85%484$123,203$785,700$426 pricier homes ($126K more) · older residents

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.