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 97227

Portland: median income $93,293, home value $662,000, $294/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28204 81%2,286$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · younger residents
Chattanooga, TN 37408 81%2,077$81,250$468,200$282 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Raleigh, NC 27601 80%2,373$71,350$579,500$387 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30312 80%2,170$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32801 80%2,526$80,871$428,000$274 cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33602 80%2,501$97,320$653,100$431 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Greenville, SC 29601 79%2,223$76,136$659,000$414 larger
Houston, TX 77027 79%1,832$103,812$859,500$362 pricier homes ($198K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77030 77%1,836$77,336$631,400$317 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77056 77%1,831$93,499$860,900$293 pricier homes ($199K more) · larger · older residents
Houston, TX 77006 76%1,835$106,533$614,800$275 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77019 75%1,833$116,423$816,500$298 pricier homes ($155K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30324 74%2,168$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77098 74%1,834$116,650$787,300$293 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger
Memphis, TN 38103 73%1,846$76,278$397,300$207 cheaper homes ($265K less) · larger
Addison, TX 75001 73%1,622$73,514$468,800$259 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85004 73%1,007$73,750$417,400$331 cheaper homes ($245K less) · larger · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85012 73%1,004$86,620$735,000$370 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28202 72%2,285$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($219K less) · larger · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30346 71%2,165$95,000$595,900$323 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, OH 43215 70%2,028$74,087$551,200$287 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55415 70%1,423$124,921$625,500$406 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($37K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Austin, TX 78702 70%1,710$102,171$686,800$430 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80230 70%987$99,750$829,000$324 pricier homes ($167K more) · larger · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27605 69%2,371$71,096$540,000$389 cheaper homes ($122K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute

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.