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 Albany, OR 97321

Albany: median income $99,416, home value $473,100, $267/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boise, ID 83713 96%344$91,295$454,100$273 Very close on everything we compare
Clovis, CA 93611 96%570$110,982$485,900$270 larger
Glendale, AZ 85308 95%959$95,247$458,100$261 larger
Gilbert, AZ 85233 94%988$111,160$513,000$290 pricier homes ($40K more)
Bremerton, WA 98311 94%207$108,757$471,800$299 Very close on everything we compare
Lodi, CA 95242 93%460$104,721$567,100$326 pricier homes ($94K more)
Vancouver, WA 98686 92%77$107,801$596,700$294 pricier homes ($124K more)
Greenacres, WA 99016 92%353$103,472$477,400$263 newer homes
Longwood, FL 32750 91%2,528$86,125$383,000$234 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Lakeland, FL 33813 90%2,532$99,497$366,300$202 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Fort Myers, FL 33967 90%2,603$90,519$364,400$233 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Traverse City, MI 49685 90%1,827$84,590$358,500$261 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Carrollton, TX 75007 90%1,616$111,521$381,100$213 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Sandy, UT 84094 90%638$106,732$528,700$264 pricier homes ($56K more) · more walkable
Mesa, AZ 85213 90%984$103,969$438,900$270 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Peoria, AZ 85381 90%960$96,746$447,900$236 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89129 90%712$89,798$448,800$246 larger
Yuba City, CA 95993 90%389$93,763$467,400$266 Very close on everything we compare
Olympia, WA 98512 90%159$101,530$472,100$316 less walkable
Olympia, WA 98513 90%163$113,053$470,700$296 Very close on everything we compare
Spokane, WA 99208 90%346$88,599$450,800$205 larger
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 89%2,592$102,079$484,800$309 5 min longer commute · older homes
Niceville, FL 32578 89%2,207$108,972$447,700$257 cheaper homes ($25K less) · less walkable
Boise, ID 83709 89%347$92,786$474,000$286 larger
Garden City, ID 83714 89%345$87,651$496,800$336 Very close on everything we compare

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.