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 97203

Portland: median income $78,660, home value $484,400, $308/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75208 95%1,635$81,950$438,400$281 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Houston, TX 77009 94%1,837$83,148$420,200$266 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Englewood, CO 80110 91%988$85,900$497,300$284 Very close on everything we compare
Fresno, CA 93704 90%626$73,234$401,600$252 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Tampa, FL 33603 89%2,503$74,081$391,000$322 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Charleston, SC 29407 88%2,419$85,367$451,800$356 cheaper homes ($33K less) · less walkable
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 88%1,024$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Longmont, CO 80501 87%965$80,911$488,800$270 newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95826 86%491$82,127$463,300$320 less walkable · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55423 85%1,427$85,182$343,900$217 cheaper homes ($141K less) · older residents
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 85%1,015$86,962$506,300$368 Very close on everything we compare
Cranston, RI 02920 84%2,532$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($114K less) · older residents
Willow Grove, PA 19090 84%2,404$99,928$369,100$256 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80215 84%980$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($166K more) · smaller
Hyattsville, MD 20781 83%2,353$86,018$465,100$308 smaller · 8 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28205 83%2,291$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more renters
Denver, CO 80221 83%981$86,810$472,900$272 more homeowners
Denver, CO 80223 83%986$79,151$539,900$355 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · more renters
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 83%643$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($84K more)
Woodland, CA 95695 83%480$79,486$547,400$342 pricier homes ($63K more)
Sacramento, CA 95822 83%493$86,801$466,000$345 Very close on everything we compare
Seattle, WA 98108 83%136$95,780$720,400$423 pricier homes ($236K more)
Worcester, MA 01602 82%2,500$91,764$417,300$291 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 82%2,693$75,361$469,700$375 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75238 82%1,635$82,019$568,700$333 pricier homes ($84K more) · more apartments and townhomes

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.