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 Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Flagstaff: median income $64,626, home value $589,100, $399/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Corvallis, OR 97333 85%891$65,191$511,100$351 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Collins, CO 80521 83%516$58,082$564,900$378 older homes
Charlottesville, VA 22903 81%1,840$69,340$526,200$304 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents · older homes
Blacksburg, VA 24060 81%1,739$67,675$447,600$237 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Provo, UT 84604 80%351$75,571$582,000$250 older homes
Bellingham, WA 98225 79%1,087$63,941$631,200$458 pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents · older homes
Logan, UT 84341 77%455$69,310$465,700$203 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Wilmington, NC 28403 76%1,910$54,547$386,700$277 cheaper homes ($202K less) · more walkable
Nashville, TN 37208 76%1,393$65,556$520,000$315 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27606 75%1,846$78,371$457,900$247 cheaper homes ($131K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Chico, CA 95926 75%641$61,920$473,600$286 cheaper homes ($116K less) · older homes
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 74%509$60,399$949,700$626 pricier homes ($361K more) · older homes
Eugene, OR 97401 74%862$52,022$494,100$328 cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents · more walkable
Nashville, TN 37209 73%1,390$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Fayetteville, AR 72703 73%983$60,568$391,000$240 cheaper homes ($198K less) · older residents
Orem, UT 84058 73%352$74,553$472,400$226 cheaper homes ($117K less) · more walkable
Arcata, CA 95521 73%781$53,114$501,000$340 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · older residents
Boise, ID 83706 72%629$82,893$537,700$364 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Provo, UT 84606 71%349$52,811$443,600$275 cheaper homes ($146K less) · more renters · older homes
Pullman, WA 99163 71%848$48,231$435,900$228 cheaper homes ($153K less) · less walkable · older homes
Amherst, MA 01002 70%2,149$70,818$481,100$314 cheaper homes ($108K less) · older homes
Clemson, SC 29631 70%1,628$48,800$400,400$214 cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller
Gainesville, FL 32608 70%1,744$61,588$358,200$206 cheaper homes ($231K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35209 70%1,419$71,439$504,600$311 cheaper homes ($85K less) · older residents · older homes
Chico, CA 95928 70%638$64,949$503,100$292 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older residents · more single-family 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.