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 Chico, CA 95973

Chico: median income $92,813, home value $489,900, $313/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beaverton, OR 97003 95%398$99,072$478,300$313 Very close on everything we compare
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 93%646$81,172$509,900$381 Very close on everything we compare
Bellingham, WA 98226 92%622$79,375$607,600$376 pricier homes ($118K more)
Spokane, WA 99224 91%582$80,770$461,000$247 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 90%2,467$102,796$416,700$262 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Arden, NC 28704 90%2,155$81,096$390,000$273 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Fort Collins, CO 80524 90%887$85,035$561,400$274 pricier homes ($72K more)
Reno, NV 89523 90%106$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($117K more)
Olympia, WA 98512 90%497$101,530$472,100$316 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32819 89%2,417$98,109$489,700$278 Very close on everything we compare
Belgrade, MT 59714 89%682$96,183$548,600$316 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
North Salt Lake, UT 84054 89%529$101,860$505,500$265 smaller · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85024 89%689$106,724$471,000$303 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Creek, WI 53154 88%1,763$96,555$331,700$230 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Loveland, CO 80537 88%886$86,325$484,300$252 7 min longer commute
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 88%603$77,864$498,300$313 Very close on everything we compare
Sparks, NV 89434 88%116$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Bend, OR 97701 88%298$87,739$626,100$342 pricier homes ($136K more)
Oak Harbor, WA 98277 88%589$83,253$499,600$317 Very close on everything we compare
Silverdale, WA 98383 88%545$111,139$596,400$306 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
Olympia, WA 98502 88%508$92,207$537,200$326 pricier homes ($47K more) · more walkable
Juneau, AK 99801 88%1,399$102,217$451,000$337 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 87%1,695$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($110K less)
De Pere, WI 54115 87%1,748$94,721$339,500$213 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Rogers, AR 72758 87%1,521$99,147$407,600$226 cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer 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.