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 95816

Sacramento: median income $90,839, home value $839,700, $504/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portland, OR 97214 88%483$87,131$771,800$338 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Portland, OR 97210 84%485$93,621$991,200$376 pricier homes ($152K more) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98403 84%603$88,056$829,800$391 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 83%532$83,916$779,200$375 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Denver, CO 80218 82%886$81,706$676,700$398 cheaper homes ($163K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Waltham, MA 02453 80%2,615$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 78%2,370$113,537$864,500$521 7 min longer commute
Newport, RI 02840 77%2,623$86,250$746,900$643 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80205 77%887$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Charleston, SC 29403 76%2,344$66,944$674,000$586 cheaper homes ($166K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Austin, TX 78756 76%1,462$94,701$832,000$500 smaller · more homeowners · newer homes
Denver, CO 80206 75%887$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($76K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
White Plains, NY 10606 74%2,506$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($157K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Princeton, NJ 08542 73%2,471$105,524$754,100$676 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
New Orleans, LA 70130 72%1,879$80,212$562,800$325 cheaper homes ($277K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80222 72%889$86,472$623,400$359 cheaper homes ($216K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Portland, ME 04102 71%2,645$82,751$503,500$388 cheaper homes ($336K less) · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23221 71%2,370$99,816$582,000$405 cheaper homes ($258K less) · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70115 71%1,878$90,182$643,100$342 cheaper homes ($197K less) · larger · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98119 71%628$123,551$1,047,600$594 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($208K more) · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43212 70%2,041$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($306K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Denver, CO 80211 70%884$121,439$807,100$442 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85012 70%630$86,620$735,000$370 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller · newer homes
Portland, OR 97232 70%484$70,895$781,200$326 cheaper homes ($59K less) · newer homes
Providence, RI 02906 69%2,614$103,050$638,600$395 cheaper homes ($201K less) · more homeowners

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.