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 Salem, OR 97304

Salem: median income $98,031, home value $499,300, $260/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glendale, AZ 85308 95%973$95,247$458,100$261 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Peoria, AZ 85381 94%974$96,746$447,900$236 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Fresno, CA 93711 94%586$104,176$494,200$250 Very close on everything we compare
Spokane, WA 99208 94%330$88,599$450,800$205 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Henderson, NV 89074 93%745$87,407$460,100$252 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Stockton, CA 95219 93%488$112,268$581,300$270 pricier homes ($82K more)
Carrollton, TX 75007 92%1,621$111,521$381,100$213 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85042 92%993$88,717$398,000$250 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Gilbert, AZ 85233 92%1,002$111,160$513,000$290 Very close on everything we compare
Sparks, NV 89434 92%411$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Clovis, CA 93611 92%589$110,982$485,900$270 Very close on everything we compare
Rocklin, CA 95677 92%437$105,713$654,200$349 pricier homes ($155K more)
Olympia, WA 98501 92%142$97,198$529,300$299 pricier homes ($30K more)
Spokane, WA 99223 92%329$94,279$490,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Myers, FL 33967 91%2,606$90,519$364,400$233 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Westminster, CO 80031 91%982$107,422$535,300$249 pricier homes ($36K more)
Fresno, CA 93720 91%586$105,050$477,800$275 Very close on everything we compare
Turlock, CA 95382 91%526$95,282$491,700$308 Very close on everything we compare
West Sacramento, CA 95691 91%449$104,750$555,800$300 pricier homes ($57K more)
Lacey, WA 98503 91%143$89,002$438,100$293 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Vancouver, WA 98662 91%56$94,303$453,200$282 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 90%2,484$102,796$416,700$262 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Virginia Beach, VA 23464 90%2,478$92,468$355,800$230 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger
Loveland, CO 80537 90%964$86,325$484,300$252 less walkable
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 90%1,026$87,685$442,200$208 cheaper homes ($57K less)

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.