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 97223

Portland: median income $106,757, home value $600,300, $312/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sacramento, CA 95831 96%484$100,751$642,700$346 pricier homes ($42K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85044 95%1,014$96,820$474,800$281 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Olympia, WA 98501 95%109$97,198$529,300$299 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Olympia, WA 98502 94%116$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Littleton, CO 80120 93%988$94,296$628,300$289 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Chandler, AZ 85226 93%1,017$114,817$483,800$303 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Fresno, CA 93711 93%614$104,176$494,200$250 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Fresno, CA 93720 93%613$105,050$477,800$275 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Roseville, CA 95661 93%470$105,925$687,800$366 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Cary, NC 27511 92%2,371$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller
Rocklin, CA 95677 92%466$105,713$654,200$349 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Westminster, CO 80031 91%978$107,422$535,300$249 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Littleton, CO 80123 91%984$105,932$620,100$284 more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98466 91%124$101,778$602,400$351 smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 90%2,684$106,149$576,700$294 7 min longer commute
Plano, TX 75075 90%1,625$98,365$428,000$219 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Broomfield, CO 80020 90%975$117,243$601,800$262 Very close on everything we compare
Roseville, CA 95678 90%468$100,554$570,600$348 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Springfield, VA 22150 89%2,349$123,114$635,900$335 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Chandler, AZ 85224 89%1,018$94,516$438,700$298 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Stockton, CA 95219 89%518$112,268$581,300$270 smaller
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 88%2,453$117,724$582,400$386 smaller · older residents
Tampa, FL 33611 88%2,504$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Lafayette, CO 80026 88%971$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 88%647$115,515$659,900$294 pricier homes ($60K more) · more homeowners

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.