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 97219

Portland: median income $121,306, home value $677,900, $327/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Orleans, LA 70124 92%2,056$121,228$580,600$257 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Littleton, CO 80122 91%988$128,691$634,400$256 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 91%644$115,515$659,900$294 Very close on everything we compare
Salt Lake City, UT 84124 91%641$120,408$746,600$363 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Glenview, IL 60025 90%1,742$126,904$521,000$347 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Winter Park, FL 32789 88%2,525$106,671$791,400$464 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77018 88%1,827$127,017$584,600$329 cheaper homes ($93K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Orlando, FL 32804 87%2,524$113,231$561,000$351 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 87%997$123,203$785,700$426 pricier homes ($108K more) · older residents · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75218 86%1,632$107,366$521,000$329 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45242 85%1,985$124,567$447,100$249 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 85%1,736$137,658$514,300$290 cheaper homes ($164K less) · 6 min longer commute
Downers Grove, IL 60515 85%1,740$123,197$461,200$308 cheaper homes ($217K less) · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98155 85%160$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($139K more)
Neptune Beach, FL 32266 83%2,449$119,294$670,900$391 smaller
Columbus, OH 43221 83%2,025$118,768$446,900$279 cheaper homes ($231K less) · less walkable
Elmhurst, IL 60126 83%1,741$147,566$540,300$360 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($138K less) · 7 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75214 83%1,631$132,313$777,100$431 pricier homes ($99K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Lafayette, CO 80026 83%968$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84109 83%640$145,034$731,200$343 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · younger residents
Sacramento, CA 95864 83%480$127,953$810,400$439 pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller · older homes
Cary, NC 27511 82%2,367$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($222K less)
Dallas, TX 75229 82%1,623$121,469$631,700$335 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Austin, TX 78757 82%1,704$103,860$655,900$427 smaller · more renters
East Greenwich, RI 02818 81%2,535$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · 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.