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 97225

Portland: median income $114,598, home value $751,700, $319/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Englewood, CO 80113 93%990$96,590$709,100$408 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Charlotte, NC 28211 91%2,294$132,917$774,900$360 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75230 91%1,630$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($180K more) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75244 91%1,627$120,286$617,800$322 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75248 91%1,627$100,414$576,100$254 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Atlanta, GA 30345 90%2,174$112,054$573,800$242 cheaper homes ($178K less)
Austin, TX 78757 90%1,708$103,860$655,900$427 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Parsippany, NJ 07054 89%2,421$104,214$587,000$387 cheaper homes ($165K less) · 5 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37206 89%1,972$96,169$600,200$362 cheaper homes ($152K less) · younger residents
Dallas, TX 75214 89%1,635$132,313$777,100$431 pricier homes ($25K more)
Tampa, FL 33609 88%2,503$115,844$605,600$361 cheaper homes ($146K less) · newer homes
Redlands, CA 92373 88%845$101,271$765,700$386 Very close on everything we compare
Waltham, MA 02451 87%2,528$122,335$753,000$487 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32803 87%2,530$107,592$455,600$334 cheaper homes ($296K less)
Orlando, FL 32804 87%2,528$113,231$561,000$351 cheaper homes ($191K less)
Dallas, TX 75209 87%1,631$134,707$864,200$391 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76109 87%1,613$100,507$630,800$269 cheaper homes ($121K less) · younger residents
Littleton, CO 80120 87%990$94,296$628,300$289 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Denver, CO 80220 87%989$106,054$805,400$382 pricier homes ($54K more) · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 87%642$101,551$567,900$329 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Decatur, GA 30030 86%2,177$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Houston, TX 77079 86%1,827$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($72K less) · younger residents
Golden, CO 80401 86%976$118,039$804,500$350 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · less walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85018 86%1,007$93,885$862,000$517 pricier homes ($110K more)
Sacramento, CA 95831 86%488$100,751$642,700$346 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger

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.