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 97317

Salem: median income $84,393, home value $402,800, $299/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glendale, AZ 85306 94%966$84,779$392,500$257 Very close on everything we compare
Citrus Heights, CA 95621 93%437$80,901$432,500$321 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Addison, IL 60101 92%1,750$90,800$338,800$233 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Sacramento, CA 95827 92%445$85,841$437,300$332 pricier homes ($35K more)
Bremerton, WA 98312 92%185$90,449$473,100$290 pricier homes ($70K more)
Kelso, WA 98626 92%86$75,528$368,900$269 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Johnston, RI 02919 91%2,547$91,775$355,800$267 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Sparks, NV 89434 91%404$91,507$457,000$302 pricier homes ($54K more)
Mentone, CA 92359 91%809$77,846$431,200$332 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Vancouver, WA 98664 91%52$85,369$467,200$296 pricier homes ($64K more)
Spokane, WA 99217 91%333$73,620$377,400$232 cheaper homes ($25K less)
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 90%2,671$77,075$397,800$259 Very close on everything we compare
West Jordan, UT 84084 90%628$96,056$459,400$253 pricier homes ($57K more) · younger residents
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 90%808$83,628$517,600$344 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller
Lakeport, CA 95453 90%405$71,419$403,300$262 smaller
Yuba City, CA 95993 90%404$93,763$467,400$266 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
East Wenatchee, WA 98802 90%215$87,744$450,300$287 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33634 89%2,494$74,291$346,400$272 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Glendale, AZ 85304 89%968$86,927$379,700$241 Very close on everything we compare
Highland, CA 92346 89%803$85,163$499,200$331 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95828 89%450$81,778$409,700$307 larger
Vancouver, WA 98662 89%57$94,303$453,200$282 pricier homes ($50K more) · newer homes
Spokane, WA 99206 89%330$81,764$404,100$206 larger
Saint Albans, VT 05478 88%2,401$71,203$316,400$224 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84129 88%627$95,844$434,000$242 pricier homes ($31K 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.