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 97266

Portland: median income $72,577, home value $445,700, $302/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woodland, CA 95695 95%471$79,486$547,400$342 pricier homes ($102K more)
Modesto, CA 95350 93%545$75,621$429,400$312 larger
Bremerton, WA 98310 93%147$75,878$440,500$286 smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 92%2,682$75,361$469,700$375 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85053 92%987$70,011$367,000$247 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Mesa, AZ 85203 92%1,008$73,578$439,100$262 younger residents
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 91%2,664$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85023 91%988$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85029 91%990$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Fresno, CA 93704 91%616$73,234$401,600$252 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 90%2,684$75,952$423,300$350 Very close on everything we compare
Longmont, CO 80501 90%955$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($43K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85032 90%991$78,643$416,800$309 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95821 90%477$64,963$496,500$356 pricier homes ($51K more)
Sacramento, CA 95827 90%482$85,841$437,300$332 smaller
Tampa, FL 33634 89%2,487$74,291$346,400$272 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · less walkable
Saint Petersburg, FL 33712 89%2,494$60,450$326,000$269 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Clearwater, FL 33755 89%2,478$62,886$328,700$264 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Glendale, AZ 85302 89%990$65,132$364,100$230 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 89%479$89,484$491,100$319 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95826 89%482$82,127$463,300$320 Very close on everything we compare
Yuba City, CA 95991 89%443$70,590$406,800$254 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Cranston, RI 02920 88%2,525$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($76K less) · older homes
Hollywood, FL 33024 88%2,684$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33162 88%2,692$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older 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.