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 Corvallis, OR 97330

Corvallis: median income $70,742, home value $526,800, $320/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Birmingham, AL 35209 93%2,082$71,439$504,600$311 more apartments and townhomes
Knoxville, TN 37919 93%2,133$72,645$526,800$258 Very close on everything we compare
Missoula, MT 59802 92%474$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
San Antonio, TX 78209 89%1,710$86,514$497,000$266 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Boise, ID 83706 89%358$82,893$537,700$364 Very close on everything we compare
Charlottesville, VA 22903 88%2,337$69,340$526,200$304 younger residents
Durham, NC 27707 88%2,381$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Chattanooga, TN 37405 87%2,097$81,337$460,600$297 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43220 87%2,057$74,298$473,500$241 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Raleigh, NC 27609 86%2,400$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more apartments and townhomes
South Portland, ME 04106 85%2,583$86,188$438,800$367 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · older residents
Lexington, KY 40502 85%2,043$76,948$517,900$253 smaller · older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22902 84%2,338$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Durham, NC 27705 84%2,378$73,066$455,000$261 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Missoula, MT 59801 84%472$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($84K less) · more walkable
Fort Worth, TX 76107 84%1,609$79,990$431,200$280 cheaper homes ($96K less) · 7 min longer commute
Fort Collins, CO 80526 84%963$88,686$551,800$273 pricier homes ($25K more) · newer homes
Tempe, AZ 85283 84%984$84,568$442,800$298 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Reno, NV 89509 84%394$86,126$703,700$385 pricier homes ($177K more) · older residents
Loma Linda, CA 92354 84%795$83,847$564,400$356 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28205 83%2,314$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 8 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37206 83%1,990$96,169$600,200$362 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75238 83%1,634$82,019$568,700$333 pricier homes ($42K more) · 10 min longer commute
Portland, ME 04103 82%2,581$89,796$459,500$356 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Madison, WI 53704 82%1,681$74,034$318,400$265 cheaper homes ($208K less) · 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.