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 Salem, OR 97305

Salem: median income $66,326, home value $372,200, $277/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Colorado Springs, CO 80916 96%1,025$67,127$326,300$219 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Sacramento, CA 95842 95%443$68,276$413,700$313 pricier homes ($42K more)
West Valley City, UT 84119 94%627$71,378$382,600$248 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85204 94%996$72,216$351,300$274 Very close on everything we compare
Stockton, CA 95210 94%489$67,991$362,300$281 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, CO 80011 93%990$74,022$409,100$235 pricier homes ($37K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89108 93%728$59,449$334,100$243 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Merced, CA 95348 93%544$64,944$383,600$248 Very close on everything we compare
Sacramento, CA 95823 93%457$66,895$401,500$308 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Salt Lake City, UT 84116 92%627$66,751$381,300$276 5 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85040 92%988$60,727$329,800$251 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Mesa, AZ 85210 92%995$61,957$337,800$260 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89110 92%735$61,001$344,300$227 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Bakersfield, CA 93309 92%697$63,544$320,400$230 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Sparks, NV 89431 91%410$66,592$365,100$294 older homes
Indio, CA 92201 91%856$66,758$402,800$293 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
El Centro, CA 92243 91%930$55,057$317,900$245 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Yuba City, CA 95991 91%412$70,590$406,800$254 pricier homes ($35K more)
Kennewick, WA 99336 91%199$62,527$324,400$240 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Marietta, GA 30060 90%2,161$67,510$316,000$231 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85029 90%975$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Colton, CA 92324 90%814$71,078$445,100$372 pricier homes ($73K more)
Marysville, CA 95901 90%409$69,776$381,000$264 6 min longer commute
Bradenton, FL 34208 89%2,521$60,504$318,800$230 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents
Aurora, CO 80017 89%993$80,524$427,100$222 pricier homes ($55K more)

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.