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.

Reset

Towns most like West Linn, OR 97068

West Linn: median income $151,729, home value $796,400, $329/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arvada, CO 80005 93%968$136,821$649,800$255 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Littleton, CO 80127 93%975$137,040$693,200$267 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Sandy, UT 84092 93%642$151,500$764,800$273 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Littleton, CO 80126 92%984$169,882$782,000$267 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, NH 03110 91%2,497$167,418$612,100$302 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331 91%2,680$142,636$712,000$413 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Excelsior, MN 55331 91%1,410$159,450$737,000$273 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Chantilly, VA 20151 90%2,328$158,271$676,800$317 cheaper homes ($120K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fairfax, VA 22032 90%2,337$178,394$799,200$361 higher income ($27K more)
Golden, CO 80403 90%960$151,276$838,000$344 pricier homes ($42K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85050 90%985$139,836$618,600$335 cheaper homes ($178K less) · newer homes
Littleton, CO 80121 89%983$142,056$707,900$311 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · older homes
Littleton, CO 80130 89%986$158,741$691,800$235 cheaper homes ($105K less)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 88%2,534$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · older homes
Falmouth, ME 04105 88%2,536$150,919$767,500$370 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 88%2,674$131,216$745,700$351 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Moorestown, NJ 08057 87%2,416$158,770$680,200$308 cheaper homes ($116K less) · older homes
Severna Park, MD 21146 87%2,365$172,122$659,800$317 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Charlotte, NC 28270 87%2,290$131,667$589,500$271 cheaper homes ($207K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33330 87%2,681$145,212$755,800$424 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Libertyville, IL 60048 87%1,729$173,975$551,200$288 cheaper homes ($245K less)
Littleton, CO 80122 87%984$128,691$634,400$256 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85048 87%1,005$122,833$592,100$289 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($204K less)
Tempe, AZ 85284 87%1,008$156,146$688,400$300 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · more walkable
East Hanover, NJ 07936 86%2,420$149,583$702,800$409 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller

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.