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 Eugene, OR 97401

Eugene: median income $52,022, home value $494,100, $328/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wilmington, NC 28403 92%2,482$54,547$386,700$277 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Provo, UT 84606 89%642$52,811$443,600$275 cheaper homes ($51K less) · younger residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 82%616$65,548$434,700$306 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Tempe, AZ 85281 82%948$64,538$381,000$345 cheaper homes ($113K less) · 5 min longer commute
Durham, NC 27701 80%2,373$69,740$508,900$346 smaller · older residents
Nashville, TN 37208 80%1,975$65,556$520,000$315 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · newer homes
Austin, TX 78752 80%1,678$67,682$422,000$334 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Missoula, MT 59801 79%479$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Tucson, AZ 85719 78%1,047$42,241$304,300$266 cheaper homes ($190K less) · younger residents
Arcata, CA 95521 78%226$53,114$501,000$340 smaller · more single-family homes · less walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 76%616$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 76%615$52,952$440,200$399 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
State College, PA 16801 75%2,289$61,836$414,600$228 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43201 75%2,055$43,731$440,000$272 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents · more renters
Dallas, TX 75240 75%1,606$58,320$395,100$220 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75287 75%1,602$63,741$405,600$230 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 8 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78758 75%1,675$74,381$440,200$231 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 7 min longer commute
Fort Collins, CO 80521 75%947$58,082$564,900$378 pricier homes ($71K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Carrboro, NC 27510 74%2,366$61,837$449,700$282 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Madison, WI 53713 74%1,676$58,017$255,600$229 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller
Fayetteville, AR 72703 74%1,614$60,568$391,000$240 cheaper homes ($103K less) · less walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85014 74%939$66,731$476,100$298 smaller · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 74%862$64,626$589,100$399 pricier homes ($95K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Nashville, TN 37210 73%1,979$50,284$355,600$315 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84107 73%617$72,108$458,300$283 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents · 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.