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 97218

Portland: median income $88,924, home value $496,600, $316/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75208 94%1,628$81,950$438,400$281 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 91%2,412$104,663$428,600$403 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Englewood, CO 80110 91%981$85,900$497,300$284 larger
Denver, CO 80215 91%973$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($154K more)
Orlando, FL 32803 90%2,523$107,592$455,600$334 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 90%636$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98406 90%118$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($142K more) · larger
Worcester, MA 01602 89%2,494$91,764$417,300$291 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Portland, ME 04103 89%2,530$89,796$459,500$356 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Charleston, SC 29407 89%2,412$85,367$451,800$356 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63132 89%1,706$87,385$417,000$270 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 89%1,009$86,962$506,300$368 larger · newer homes
Orlando, FL 32806 88%2,525$89,046$441,300$288 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33603 88%2,496$74,081$391,000$322 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Columbus, OH 43209 88%2,028$89,713$392,500$256 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77009 88%1,830$83,148$420,200$266 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 88%972$89,627$609,800$331 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger · older residents
Stamford, CT 06907 87%2,447$106,379$590,000$421 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller
Willow Grove, PA 19090 87%2,398$99,928$369,100$256 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Worcester, MA 01606 86%2,495$92,105$370,800$317 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Atlanta, GA 30317 86%2,169$107,955$541,100$351 pricier homes ($45K more)
Orlando, FL 32804 86%2,520$113,231$561,000$351 pricier homes ($64K more)
Denver, CO 80223 86%979$79,151$539,900$355 pricier homes ($43K more) · more renters
Denver, CO 80224 86%984$86,352$604,000$274 pricier homes ($107K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Bristol, RI 02809 85%2,537$97,764$485,000$387 older 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.