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 Hillsboro, OR 97124

Hillsboro: median income $110,067, home value $556,300, $313/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Broomfield, CO 80021 92%984$110,038$568,000$292 Very close on everything we compare
Sacramento, CA 95834 92%483$101,260$557,600$289 Very close on everything we compare
Chandler, AZ 85224 89%1,029$94,516$438,700$298 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Austin, TX 78723 88%1,721$100,329$562,300$355 older homes
Fresno, CA 93720 88%622$105,050$477,800$275 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78745 86%1,721$86,109$504,800$291 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Arvada, CO 80002 86%988$93,362$558,500$322 smaller · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95833 86%484$97,792$464,400$302 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Renton, WA 98055 86%138$97,224$602,800$326 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28210 85%2,302$100,824$531,700$315 Very close on everything we compare
Tempe, AZ 85283 85%1,024$84,568$442,800$298 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($114K less) · older homes
Roseville, CA 95678 85%476$100,554$570,600$348 more single-family homes
Tampa, FL 33616 84%2,515$93,210$405,500$278 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller
Chandler, AZ 85226 84%1,028$114,817$483,800$303 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30341 83%2,182$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32819 83%2,539$98,109$489,700$278 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · less walkable
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 83%2,695$97,412$500,700$296 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Englewood, CO 80112 83%1,004$108,874$659,200$282 pricier homes ($103K more)
Lynnwood, WA 98087 83%164$106,693$676,400$396 pricier homes ($120K more) · 9 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33611 82%2,515$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older residents
Nashville, TN 37209 82%1,976$81,423$529,800$333 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($27K less)
Fort Collins, CO 80526 82%963$88,686$551,800$273 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98466 82%118$101,778$602,400$351 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · older residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 81%2,477$100,697$613,600$349 pricier homes ($57K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Bozeman, MT 59718 81%566$99,123$646,400$353 pricier homes ($90K more) · 6 min shorter commute

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.