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 97230

Portland: median income $75,572, home value $450,700, $255/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 94%2,663$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Longmont, CO 80501 93%954$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($38K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85023 93%990$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Mesa, AZ 85203 93%1,011$73,578$439,100$262 younger residents
Glendale, AZ 85306 93%989$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Woodland, CA 95695 93%476$79,486$547,400$342 pricier homes ($97K more)
Cranston, RI 02920 92%2,521$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($81K less) · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85032 92%994$78,643$416,800$309 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85053 92%990$70,011$367,000$247 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 5 min longer commute
Fresno, CA 93704 92%620$73,234$401,600$252 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95827 92%486$85,841$437,300$332 smaller
Spokane, WA 99206 92%288$81,764$404,100$206 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 91%2,683$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Tampa, FL 33634 91%2,486$74,291$346,400$272 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Modesto, CA 95350 91%549$75,621$429,400$312 Very close on everything we compare
Bremerton, WA 98310 91%142$75,878$440,500$286 smaller
Norfolk, VA 23518 90%2,442$77,594$300,700$238 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 90%1,013$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Boise, ID 83704 90%333$73,390$388,000$281 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85029 90%992$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89120 90%759$74,688$401,800$221 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Citrus Heights, CA 95621 90%477$80,901$432,500$321 Very close on everything we compare
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 90%484$89,484$491,100$319 pricier homes ($40K more)
Lacey, WA 98503 90%103$89,002$438,100$293 newer homes
Vancouver, WA 98665 90%13$88,559$476,200$274 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · newer homes

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.