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 97214

Portland: median income $87,131, home value $771,800, $338/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sacramento, CA 95816 88%483$90,839$839,700$504 pricier homes ($68K more)
Tacoma, WA 98403 87%121$88,056$829,800$391 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
New Orleans, LA 70115 81%2,058$90,182$643,100$342 cheaper homes ($129K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
New Orleans, LA 70130 79%2,059$80,212$562,800$325 cheaper homes ($209K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Providence, RI 02906 78%2,530$103,050$638,600$395 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53211 77%1,713$75,256$434,500$282 cheaper homes ($337K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55405 77%1,420$73,053$467,700$244 cheaper homes ($304K less) · smaller
Portland, ME 04102 76%2,533$82,751$503,500$388 cheaper homes ($268K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80218 76%980$81,706$676,700$398 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Northampton, MA 01060 74%2,458$76,848$453,400$344 cheaper homes ($318K less) · smaller · less walkable
Waltham, MA 02453 73%2,523$115,366$705,100$473 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($67K less) · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23221 73%2,366$99,816$582,000$405 cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45202 73%1,978$95,633$443,600$278 cheaper homes ($328K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 73%633$83,916$779,200$375 less walkable · newer homes
Evanston, IL 60201 72%1,745$90,545$590,700$370 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · more homeowners
Newport, RI 02840 71%2,543$86,250$746,900$643 more homeowners · less walkable
Denver, CO 80205 69%980$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($123K less) · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 68%2,162$95,668$455,100$281 cheaper homes ($317K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Norfolk, VA 23507 68%2,446$104,295$555,200$223 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller · more homeowners
West Hartford, CT 06119 67%2,469$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($393K less) · smaller · less walkable
Buffalo, NY 14222 67%2,148$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($364K less) · smaller · less walkable
Richmond, VA 23220 67%2,368$61,381$473,100$318 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($299K less) · younger residents
Columbus, OH 43212 67%2,023$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($238K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94609 67%531$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($436K more) · 9 min longer commute
Burlington, VT 05401 66%2,377$65,657$492,100$360 cheaper homes ($280K less) · younger residents · less walkable

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.