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 95817

Sacramento: median income $64,212, home value $543,900, $457/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 87%897$61,768$456,100$318 cheaper homes ($88K less) · older homes
Denver, CO 80223 86%884$79,151$539,900$355 6 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85013 84%629$71,966$567,700$315 larger
Asheville, NC 28801 82%2,138$58,438$548,100$411 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Missoula, MT 59801 79%686$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Vancouver, WA 98660 79%494$67,344$469,600$329 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older residents · newer homes
Durham, NC 27701 78%2,326$69,740$508,900$346 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Charlotte, NC 28205 77%2,241$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · newer homes
Charleston, SC 29403 77%2,343$66,944$674,000$586 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80222 77%888$86,472$623,400$359 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · newer homes
Denver, CO 80214 76%881$75,575$559,100$387 larger · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Colorado Springs, CO 80905 76%895$63,281$379,000$264 cheaper homes ($165K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85003 76%631$60,461$616,800$389 pricier homes ($73K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85007 76%631$63,616$480,600$340 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Missoula, MT 59802 75%689$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75208 73%1,434$81,950$438,400$281 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85006 73%632$58,248$408,100$311 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33166 72%2,538$81,581$530,300$453 larger · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70118 72%1,875$63,750$465,600$253 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85014 72%630$66,731$476,100$298 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Albuquerque, NM 87106 72%854$49,781$354,200$242 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger
Worcester, MA 01609 71%2,587$68,381$444,000$267 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · younger residents
Portland, ME 04102 71%2,645$82,751$503,500$388 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Miami, FL 33145 71%2,544$73,995$581,600$485 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older residents
Columbus, OH 43202 71%2,043$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($203K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.