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 97205

Portland: median income $57,288, home value $637,100, $387/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sacramento, CA 95814 83%483$58,284$633,200$355 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Providence, RI 02903 81%2,531$64,476$408,900$475 cheaper homes ($228K less) · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14202 80%2,151$56,528$479,100$288 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95811 78%484$80,827$761,000$400 pricier homes ($124K more) · younger residents
Denver, CO 80246 77%985$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($79K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85003 76%1,006$60,461$616,800$389 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Knoxville, TN 37902 74%2,111$50,161$687,500$579 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · younger residents
Omaha, NE 68102 74%1,368$64,111$389,400$329 cheaper homes ($248K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 74%636$52,199$548,700$364 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · younger residents
Portland, ME 04101 73%2,537$63,880$617,600$568 larger · older homes
Detroit, MI 48226 73%1,965$64,860$324,500$492 cheaper homes ($313K less) · younger residents
Tucson, AZ 85701 73%1,112$51,794$492,100$338 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Richmond, VA 23219 72%2,371$57,507$380,700$361 cheaper homes ($256K less) · smaller · younger residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 71%636$52,952$440,200$399 cheaper homes ($197K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98402 70%120$60,505$531,300$438 cheaper homes ($106K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Denver, CO 80203 69%982$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · younger residents
Rochester, NY 14604 67%2,204$52,105$784,700— pricier homes ($148K more) · smaller · younger residents
Norfolk, VA 23510 65%2,450$73,524$385,700$246 cheaper homes ($251K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Miami Beach, FL 33139 65%2,706$69,793$480,900$574 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 65%2,501$73,542$637,700$514 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80218 65%983$81,706$676,700$398 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19107 64%2,407$69,105$458,600$357 cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger · younger residents
Milwaukee, WI 53202 64%1,716$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($296K less) · larger · younger residents
Wichita, KS 67202 64%1,410$58,234$407,100$275 cheaper homes ($230K less) · smaller · younger residents
Pasadena, CA 91101 64%822$87,813$682,300$636 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($45K more) · larger

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.