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 Sacramento, CA 95811

Sacramento: median income $80,827, home value $761,000, $400/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80246 92%889$67,235$716,400$405 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Portland, OR 97232 89%484$70,895$781,200$326 larger
Alexandria, VA 22311 80%2,368$87,626$760,300$379 larger · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85012 79%632$86,620$735,000$370 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97201 78%483$63,250$673,600$303 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · newer homes
Portland, OR 97205 78%484$57,288$637,100$387 cheaper homes ($124K less) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85003 77%634$60,461$616,800$389 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Denver, CO 80203 76%887$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($290K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80218 75%887$81,706$676,700$398 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98402 75%602$60,505$531,300$438 cheaper homes ($230K less) · newer homes
Durham, NC 27701 74%2,327$69,740$508,900$346 cheaper homes ($252K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Norfolk, VA 23510 73%2,448$73,524$385,700$246 cheaper homes ($375K less)
East Rutherford, NJ 07073 71%2,493$97,993$458,100$397 cheaper homes ($303K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80204 71%884$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02903 70%2,615$64,476$408,900$475 cheaper homes ($352K less) · older homes
Austin, TX 78752 70%1,465$67,682$422,000$334 cheaper homes ($339K less) · larger · less walkable
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120 69%2,624$64,289$885,900$485 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · younger residents
Raleigh, NC 27605 69%2,344$71,096$540,000$389 cheaper homes ($221K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Charleston, SC 29403 69%2,345$66,944$674,000$586 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · more homeowners
Greenville, SC 29601 69%2,164$76,136$659,000$414 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 69%532$52,952$440,200$399 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($321K less) · newer homes
Winooski, VT 05404 68%2,494$79,522$381,500$280 cheaper homes ($380K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
White Plains, NY 10606 68%2,507$112,270$682,300$492 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 68%2,348$73,542$637,700$514 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · older residents
Austin, TX 78751 68%1,464$80,915$852,000$470 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · 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.