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 Reno, NV 89523

Reno: median income $99,061, home value $607,300, $352/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Happy Valley, OR 97086 93%430$102,359$697,400$285 pricier homes ($90K more)
Olympia, WA 98502 92%547$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Olympia, WA 98516 92%544$98,892$572,500$322 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Tualatin, OR 97062 91%429$105,407$640,300$293 pricier homes ($33K more)
Bend, OR 97701 91%324$87,739$626,100$342 6 min shorter commute
Olympia, WA 98501 91%538$97,198$529,300$299 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older homes
Garden City, ID 83714 90%346$87,651$496,800$336 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Roseville, CA 95661 90%90$105,925$687,800$366 pricier homes ($81K more) · more walkable
Chico, CA 95973 90%106$92,813$489,900$313 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Salem, OR 97306 90%403$101,753$463,100$267 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Eugene, OR 97408 90%358$104,945$539,600$327 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Silverdale, WA 98383 90%579$111,139$596,400$306 smaller
Fresno, CA 93720 89%184$105,050$477,800$275 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Rocklin, CA 95677 89%88$105,713$654,200$349 pricier homes ($47K more)
Hillsboro, OR 97123 89%441$109,985$538,500$298 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Salem, OR 97304 89%409$98,031$499,300$260 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Bend, OR 97702 89%319$96,112$695,500$376 pricier homes ($88K more)
Richland, WA 99352 89%466$100,108$474,100$263 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Charleston, SC 29412 88%2,260$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Jupiter, FL 33458 88%2,435$109,729$604,500$391 more homeowners
Belgrade, MT 59714 88%620$96,183$548,600$316 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · younger residents
Meridian, ID 83642 88%336$96,909$533,600$280 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85024 88%595$106,724$471,000$303 cheaper homes ($136K less) · younger residents
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 88%545$81,172$509,900$381 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Bellingham, WA 98226 88%653$79,375$607,600$376 Very close on everything we compare

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.