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 86005

Flagstaff: median income $87,942, home value $599,900, $420/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Austin, TX 78721 90%880$84,573$523,000$328 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Gunnison, CO 81230 89%352$77,942$533,200$389 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · older homes
Bellingham, WA 98229 87%1,084$90,945$633,500$390 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more homeowners
Olympia, WA 98502 87%1,014$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · older residents
Fort Collins, CO 80524 86%521$85,035$561,400$274 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Fort Collins, CO 80526 86%517$88,686$551,800$273 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32836 83%1,824$111,987$677,800$307 pricier homes ($78K more) · older residents
Boise, ID 83706 83%630$82,893$537,700$364 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
New Paltz, NY 12561 82%2,066$92,288$453,500$333 cheaper homes ($146K less) · older homes
Nashville, TN 37209 82%1,391$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bozeman, MT 59718 82%727$99,123$646,400$353 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Boise, ID 83703 82%636$76,910$508,000$353 cheaper homes ($92K less) · older residents
Reno, NV 89523 82%543$99,061$607,300$352 larger · older residents
Tualatin, OR 97062 82%915$105,407$640,300$293 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Olympia, WA 98501 82%1,003$97,198$529,300$299 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · older residents
Asheville, NC 28803 81%1,638$76,662$452,900$306 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · older residents
Tampa, FL 33611 81%1,783$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · older residents
Austin, TX 78736 81%868$93,805$573,100$293 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Collins, CO 80525 81%518$91,636$588,400$265 larger
Durango, CO 81301 81%259$83,943$695,800$506 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · older residents
Charleston, SC 29412 80%1,819$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32224 80%1,782$88,259$458,100$265 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Hood River, OR 97031 80%891$91,858$691,200$409 pricier homes ($91K more)
Eugene, OR 97408 80%866$104,945$539,600$327 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Bend, OR 97701 80%801$87,739$626,100$342 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.