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 97229

Portland: median income $161,570, home value $782,100, $309/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, CO 80027 94%973$154,232$890,200$358 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller
Littleton, CO 80129 89%995$141,667$663,800$266 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller
Folsom, CA 95630 89%483$139,642$755,200$382 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Alpharetta, GA 30004 88%2,167$156,100$657,700$249 cheaper homes ($124K less) · less walkable
Alpharetta, GA 30005 85%2,171$176,957$636,300$236 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller · less walkable
Houston, TX 77008 85%1,837$143,229$642,600$296 cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller
Littleton, CO 80126 85%996$169,882$782,000$267 smaller · more homeowners
Malvern, PA 19355 83%2,392$169,417$692,300$315 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · older homes
Cary, NC 27519 83%2,366$165,586$670,900$267 cheaper homes ($111K less) · less walkable
Coppell, TX 75019 83%1,622$141,923$559,500$266 cheaper homes ($223K less) · smaller · less walkable
Lafayette, CO 80026 83%975$120,187$705,600$310 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Plano, TX 75093 82%1,628$124,563$670,500$259 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Englewood, CO 80111 82%998$135,995$916,500$314 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($134K more) · smaller
Littleton, CO 80130 82%999$158,741$691,800$235 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Herndon, VA 20170 81%2,336$159,466$647,200$326 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · older homes
Apex, NC 27523 81%2,372$135,625$659,300$252 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller
Naperville, IL 60540 81%1,740$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($232K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Frisco, TX 75033 81%1,614$174,762$652,100$228 cheaper homes ($130K less) · 8 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80238 81%989$180,940$832,200$295 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Rocklin, CA 95765 81%472$138,090$732,500$323 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Centreville, VA 20120 80%2,335$152,563$648,700$317 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Glen Allen, VA 23059 80%2,366$157,897$593,700$238 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · less walkable
Apex, NC 27502 80%2,372$143,922$550,900$241 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller · less walkable
Cary, NC 27513 80%2,371$121,989$519,800$258 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($262K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28270 80%2,299$131,667$589,500$271 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller

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.