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 97215

Portland: median income $116,264, home value $684,200, $334/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sacramento, CA 95818 86%484$118,196$790,200$512 pricier homes ($106K more)
Denver, CO 80207 84%980$115,542$705,200$390 less walkable
Denver, CO 80212 84%974$124,972$744,500$453 pricier homes ($60K more) · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84105 84%633$99,562$686,100$374 younger residents
Dallas, TX 75218 83%1,629$107,366$521,000$329 cheaper homes ($163K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Denver, CO 80220 82%981$106,054$805,400$382 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23226 81%2,362$126,655$530,900$390 cheaper homes ($153K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704 81%2,496$107,889$753,600$451 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents · less walkable
Oak Park, IL 60304 81%1,743$136,178$466,700$307 cheaper homes ($218K less) · 7 min longer commute
Orlando, FL 32804 80%2,519$113,231$561,000$351 cheaper homes ($123K less) · newer homes
Leonia, NJ 07605 78%2,432$129,219$672,900$469 smaller · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30317 78%2,168$107,955$541,100$351 cheaper homes ($143K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55410 78%1,418$146,425$620,600$323 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · more homeowners
Sacramento, CA 95819 77%484$136,306$753,500$554 pricier homes ($69K more)
West Roxbury, MA 02132 76%2,527$138,724$746,100$505 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Haddonfield, NJ 08033 76%2,410$151,181$635,300$384 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · 5 min longer commute
Collingswood, NJ 08108 76%2,408$108,151$395,300$332 cheaper homes ($289K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Paul, MN 55105 76%1,425$107,248$470,100$273 cheaper homes ($214K less) · larger · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 75%2,156$123,681$383,700$263 cheaper homes ($301K less) · less walkable
Chicago, IL 60646 75%1,742$112,525$503,900$311 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78757 75%1,701$103,860$655,900$427 cheaper homes ($28K less) · newer homes
Jenkintown, PA 19046 74%2,401$109,818$470,800$243 cheaper homes ($213K less) · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, OH 43214 74%2,021$94,183$400,400$290 cheaper homes ($284K less) · larger · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55409 74%1,419$98,305$378,600$267 cheaper homes ($306K less) · smaller · younger residents
La Grange Park, IL 60526 74%1,740$120,308$439,800$308 cheaper homes ($244K less) · 6 min longer commute · 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.