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 97333

Corvallis: median income $65,191, home value $511,100, $351/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlottesville, VA 22903 91%2,338$69,340$526,200$304 larger · older homes
Boise, ID 83706 90%358$82,893$537,700$364 pricier homes ($27K more)
Nashville, TN 37209 87%1,985$81,423$529,800$333 larger
Blacksburg, VA 24060 86%2,266$67,675$447,600$237 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Fort Collins, CO 80521 86%962$58,082$564,900$378 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · younger residents
Durham, NC 27705 85%2,379$73,066$455,000$261 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older residents
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 85%891$64,626$589,100$399 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · younger residents
Durham, NC 27707 84%2,381$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35209 84%2,082$71,439$504,600$311 older homes
Missoula, MT 59802 84%476$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents · older homes
Provo, UT 84604 84%662$75,571$582,000$250 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · younger residents
Nashville, TN 37208 83%1,987$65,556$520,000$315 newer homes
Wilmington, NC 28403 82%2,492$54,547$386,700$277 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Arcata, CA 95521 82%256$53,114$501,000$340 older homes
Amherst, MA 01002 81%2,512$70,818$481,100$314 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older homes
State College, PA 16801 81%2,293$61,836$414,600$228 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · older homes
Fayetteville, AR 72703 81%1,630$60,568$391,000$240 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Loma Linda, CA 92354 81%792$83,847$564,400$356 pricier homes ($53K more) · older residents
Chattanooga, TN 37405 80%2,097$81,337$460,600$297 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents
Missoula, MT 59801 80%474$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more walkable · older homes
Austin, TX 78721 80%1,704$84,573$523,000$328 smaller
Raleigh, NC 27606 79%2,399$78,371$457,900$247 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Raleigh, NC 27609 79%2,400$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76107 79%1,608$79,990$431,200$280 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older residents · older homes
Gunnison, CO 81230 79%939$77,942$533,200$389 smaller · more homeowners

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.