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.

Reset

Towns most like Portland, OR 97236

Portland: median income $75,090, home value $436,100, $281/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 96%2,662$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 95%474$83,327$485,900$319 pricier homes ($50K more)
Citrus Heights, CA 95621 95%473$80,901$432,500$321 Very close on everything we compare
Marysville, CA 95901 95%440$69,776$381,000$264 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Tampa, FL 33634 94%2,485$74,291$346,400$272 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85023 94%987$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Sacramento, CA 95842 94%474$68,276$413,700$313 Very close on everything we compare
Yuba City, CA 95991 94%443$70,590$406,800$254 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Denver, CO 80229 93%971$84,203$417,500$264 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85053 93%987$70,011$367,000$247 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Mesa, AZ 85203 93%1,008$73,578$439,100$262 Very close on everything we compare
Glendale, AZ 85302 93%989$65,132$364,100$230 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Colton, CA 92324 93%838$71,078$445,100$372 larger
Hollywood, FL 33024 92%2,682$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 92%2,679$77,321$337,700$281 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 92%2,682$75,952$423,300$350 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, CO 80011 92%981$74,022$409,100$235 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Aurora, CO 80017 92%984$80,524$427,100$222 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85027 92%984$76,605$354,800$268 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85029 92%989$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Mesa, AZ 85204 92%1,010$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33169 91%2,688$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Tampa, FL 33615 91%2,484$69,274$335,900$259 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Denver, CO 80233 91%969$88,880$465,400$232 pricier homes ($29K more)
Glendale, AZ 85306 91%986$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($44K 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.