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 Portland, OR 97201

Portland: median income $63,250, home value $673,600, $303/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80246 89%985$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($43K more)
Houston, TX 77030 86%1,835$77,336$631,400$317 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Raleigh, NC 27605 84%2,372$71,096$540,000$389 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Addison, TX 75001 83%1,622$73,514$468,800$259 cheaper homes ($205K less)
Columbus, OH 43215 82%2,029$74,087$551,200$287 cheaper homes ($122K less) · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30312 80%2,170$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 80%636$52,952$440,200$399 cheaper homes ($233K less)
Carrboro, NC 27510 79%2,346$61,837$449,700$282 cheaper homes ($224K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30329 79%2,170$76,579$488,300$229 cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger · less walkable
Orlando, FL 32801 78%2,526$80,871$428,000$274 cheaper homes ($246K less) · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46202 78%1,881$63,506$439,200$222 cheaper homes ($234K less) · older homes
Denver, CO 80203 78%982$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($203K less) · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95811 78%483$80,827$761,000$400 pricier homes ($87K more) · smaller · older homes
Columbus, OH 43212 76%2,026$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($140K less) · older homes
Dallas, TX 75206 76%1,630$91,023$615,400$363 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Memphis, TN 38103 74%1,847$76,278$397,300$207 cheaper homes ($276K less) · newer homes
Durham, NC 27701 73%2,353$69,740$508,900$346 cheaper homes ($165K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Denver, CO 80237 73%989$85,705$582,500$241 cheaper homes ($91K less) · more homeowners
Greenville, SC 29601 72%2,224$76,136$659,000$414 older residents · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30308 72%2,169$85,693$390,200$359 cheaper homes ($283K less) · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30324 72%2,168$92,122$502,500$277 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($171K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37203 72%1,966$71,281$549,000$460 cheaper homes ($125K less) · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53202 72%1,716$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($333K less) · larger · older homes
Denver, CO 80204 72%980$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85012 72%1,002$86,620$735,000$370 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · more homeowners

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.