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 Scottsdale, AZ 85257

Scottsdale: median income $86,962, home value $506,300, $368/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charleston, SC 29407 95%1,840$85,367$451,800$356 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Englewood, CO 80110 94%573$85,900$497,300$284 Very close on everything we compare
Denver, CO 80215 94%575$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($144K more) · smaller
Beaverton, OR 97008 94%1,010$96,116$578,100$338 pricier homes ($72K more)
South Portland, ME 04106 93%2,330$86,188$438,800$367 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 93%497$87,813$648,900$314 pricier homes ($143K more)
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 92%577$89,627$609,800$331 pricier homes ($104K more)
Portland, OR 97222 92%1,003$83,119$490,900$316 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, ME 04103 91%2,330$89,796$459,500$356 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Dallas, TX 75238 91%880$82,019$568,700$333 pricier homes ($62K more)
Longmont, CO 80501 91%597$80,911$488,800$270 Very close on everything we compare
Westbrook, ME 04092 90%2,326$85,038$383,300$331 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Little Falls, NJ 07424 90%2,120$105,050$487,600$384 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75208 90%873$81,950$438,400$281 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Arvada, CO 80002 90%578$93,362$558,500$322 pricier homes ($52K more)
Littleton, CO 80120 90%571$94,296$628,300$289 pricier homes ($122K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 90%544$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 90%500$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($62K more)
Tacoma, WA 98466 90%1,101$101,778$602,400$351 pricier homes ($96K more)
Bristol, RI 02809 89%2,275$97,764$485,000$387 older residents
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 89%1,795$89,185$452,700$340 cheaper homes ($54K less) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80226 89%574$82,300$568,300$267 pricier homes ($62K more)
Sacramento, CA 95826 89%634$82,127$463,300$320 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Portland, OR 97218 89%1,009$88,924$496,600$316 smaller · older homes
Salem, OR 97302 89%988$85,833$446,400$268 cheaper homes ($60K 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.