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 86004

Flagstaff: median income $81,172, home value $509,900, $381/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chico, CA 95973 93%646$92,813$489,900$313 Very close on everything we compare
Bend, OR 97701 91%800$87,739$626,100$342 pricier homes ($116K more)
Bellingham, WA 98226 91%1,089$79,375$607,600$376 pricier homes ($98K more) · less walkable
Fort Collins, CO 80524 90%513$85,035$561,400$274 pricier homes ($52K more)
Hood River, OR 97031 90%890$91,858$691,200$409 pricier homes ($181K more) · smaller
Olympia, WA 98501 90%1,002$97,198$529,300$299 Very close on everything we compare
Olympia, WA 98502 90%1,013$92,207$537,200$326 pricier homes ($27K more)
Asheville, NC 28803 89%1,631$76,662$452,900$306 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 89%1,777$89,185$452,700$340 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min longer commute
Reno, NV 89523 88%545$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($97K more)
Medford, OR 97504 88%780$83,923$468,900$267 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Vancouver, WA 98664 88%921$85,369$467,200$296 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Juneau, AK 99801 88%1,912$102,217$451,000$337 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 87%904$77,864$498,300$313 Very close on everything we compare
Beaverton, OR 97003 87%925$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Oak Harbor, WA 98277 87%1,067$83,253$499,600$317 Very close on everything we compare
Wenatchee, WA 98801 87%956$81,488$461,200$292 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Wilmington, NC 28405 86%1,906$70,274$368,500$257 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Missoula, MT 59808 86%822$80,239$460,900$337 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · newer homes
Kalispell, MT 59901 86%907$72,523$476,300$334 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 86%446$89,984$574,100$224 pricier homes ($64K more)
Sparks, NV 89434 86%537$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Reno, NV 89509 86%540$86,126$703,700$385 pricier homes ($194K more) · older homes
Asheville, NC 28805 85%1,632$75,151$412,500$281 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · older residents
Asheville, NC 28806 85%1,626$63,273$359,200$276 cheaper homes ($151K 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.