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 97220

Portland: median income $70,137, home value $450,200, $325/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tampa, FL 33603 94%2,494$74,081$391,000$322 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Fresno, CA 93704 94%621$73,234$401,600$252 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Cranston, RI 02920 92%2,524$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 91%2,683$75,361$469,700$375 more apartments and townhomes
Saint Petersburg, FL 33705 91%2,496$73,027$365,600$297 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Saint Petersburg, FL 33713 91%2,492$74,707$323,000$342 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Houston, TX 77009 91%1,828$83,148$420,200$266 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Sacramento, CA 95822 89%489$86,801$466,000$345 larger
Miami, FL 33144 88%2,695$60,907$479,200$414 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Woodland, CA 95695 88%476$79,486$547,400$342 pricier homes ($97K more) · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95821 88%482$64,963$496,500$356 pricier homes ($46K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Riverside, RI 02915 87%2,529$84,414$357,600$305 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Keansburg, NJ 07734 87%2,435$82,029$346,900$340 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Clearwater, FL 33755 87%2,479$62,886$328,700$264 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Tacoma, WA 98405 87%118$75,946$464,700$300 older homes
Vancouver, WA 98663 87%9$86,018$450,300$299 smaller · less walkable
New Bedford, MA 02745 86%2,551$74,034$368,600$316 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33155 86%2,696$81,158$581,700$490 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 86%2,685$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75208 86%1,626$81,950$438,400$281 younger residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 86%1,015$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($35K less) · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95820 86%487$78,436$416,900$375 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more single-family homes
Stratford, CT 06615 85%2,462$81,534$364,700$306 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33162 85%2,693$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33604 85%2,493$58,766$311,900$275 cheaper homes ($138K less)

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.