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 95826

Sacramento: median income $82,127, home value $463,300, $320/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Englewood, CO 80110 94%879$85,900$497,300$284 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Longmont, CO 80501 94%875$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($26K more)
Mesa, AZ 85203 94%640$73,578$439,100$262 Very close on everything we compare
Bremerton, WA 98310 94%628$75,878$440,500$286 smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85032 92%624$78,643$416,800$309 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97222 92%480$83,119$490,900$316 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98198 92%613$86,239$589,500$361 pricier homes ($126K more) · 5 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80226 91%875$82,300$568,300$267 pricier homes ($105K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 91%891$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85023 91%618$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Tempe, AZ 85283 91%637$84,568$442,800$298 5 min shorter commute
Charleston, SC 29407 90%2,335$85,367$451,800$356 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75234 90%1,422$86,733$351,600$247 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Denver, CO 80236 90%878$86,115$531,700$240 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85022 90%621$69,927$425,200$290 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85027 90%617$76,605$354,800$268 cheaper homes ($109K less) · newer homes
Houston, TX 77043 89%1,587$79,359$411,100$206 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84123 89%523$81,271$464,500$242 Very close on everything we compare
Chandler, AZ 85224 89%642$94,516$438,700$298 newer homes
Chandler, AZ 85225 89%645$88,676$430,400$283 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · newer homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 89%634$86,962$506,300$368 pricier homes ($43K more)
Beaverton, OR 97078 89%482$90,606$478,800$318 smaller
Portland, OR 97230 89%487$75,572$450,700$255 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, OR 97266 89%482$72,577$445,700$302 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, OR 97303 89%453$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($29K less)

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.