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 97206

Portland: median income $98,548, home value $498,300, $338/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75218 89%1,628$107,366$521,000$329 smaller
Tacoma, WA 98406 88%123$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($140K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77009 87%1,828$83,148$420,200$266 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Orlando, FL 32806 86%2,523$89,046$441,300$288 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60631 85%1,739$115,000$436,400$280 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30317 83%2,168$107,955$541,100$351 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Union, NJ 07083 82%2,424$121,887$455,300$392 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Orlando, FL 32804 82%2,519$113,231$561,000$351 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Skokie, IL 60076 82%1,742$113,818$396,200$278 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 82%634$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($70K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Sacramento, CA 95822 82%485$86,801$466,000$345 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55418 81%1,420$99,397$348,700$232 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80207 81%979$115,542$705,200$390 pricier homes ($207K more) · smaller
New Milford, NJ 07646 80%2,429$114,889$580,400$467 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33155 80%2,696$81,158$581,700$490 pricier homes ($83K more) · older residents
Mount Prospect, IL 60056 80%1,732$101,922$397,200$272 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Houston, TX 77018 80%1,824$127,017$584,600$329 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller
Arvada, CO 80004 80%968$103,659$616,700$268 pricier homes ($118K more) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98146 80%140$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($181K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98178 80%140$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($162K more) · smaller · less walkable
Hawthorne, NJ 07506 79%2,422$110,237$533,700$383 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Totowa, NJ 07512 79%2,420$113,563$559,300$401 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 79%2,410$100,951$331,200$254 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 79%2,412$114,012$372,200$275 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Willow Grove, PA 19090 79%2,398$99,928$369,100$256 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · 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.