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 97267

Portland: median income $87,418, home value $533,400, $295/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 94%2,683$93,603$495,000$298 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Arvada, CO 80004 93%967$103,659$616,700$268 pricier homes ($83K more)
Arvada, CO 80003 92%969$91,464$534,700$265 younger residents
Denver, CO 80232 91%973$96,217$521,600$251 Very close on everything we compare
Longwood, FL 32750 89%2,514$86,125$383,000$234 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Everett, WA 98203 89%176$107,376$608,600$359 pricier homes ($75K more)
Middlesex, NJ 08846 88%2,418$105,000$446,400$378 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Neptune, NJ 07753 87%2,449$95,712$425,800$371 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Orlando, FL 32806 87%2,523$89,046$441,300$288 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Denver, CO 80221 87%972$86,810$472,900$272 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents
Saugus, MA 01906 86%2,531$101,539$603,400$393 pricier homes ($70K more)
Warwick, RI 02886 86%2,532$92,047$366,400$285 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Johnston, RI 02919 86%2,525$91,775$355,800$267 cheaper homes ($178K less)
Sandy, UT 84094 86%637$106,732$528,700$264 younger residents
Modesto, CA 95356 86%538$96,886$532,600$278 younger residents · newer homes
Auburn, CA 95603 86%455$85,357$650,500$369 pricier homes ($117K more) · less walkable
Vancouver, WA 98663 86%17$86,018$450,300$299 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · younger residents
Miami, FL 33165 85%2,694$85,200$519,700$405 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Sarasota, FL 34232 85%2,523$80,795$359,900$250 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Glendale, AZ 85306 85%984$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents
Sacramento, CA 95822 85%480$86,801$466,000$345 cheaper homes ($67K less) · younger residents · older homes
Seattle, WA 98178 85%146$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($127K more) · 5 min longer commute
Lakewood, WA 98498 85%121$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($27K less) · less walkable
Riverside, RI 02915 84%2,534$84,414$357,600$305 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · older homes
Keyport, NJ 07735 84%2,436$97,536$406,000$382 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · 5 min longer 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.