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 97403

Eugene: median income $45,417, home value $592,200, $330/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Collins, CO 80521 87%946$58,082$564,900$378 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Arcata, CA 95521 83%225$53,114$501,000$340 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older residents
Clemson, SC 29631 79%2,220$48,800$400,400$214 cheaper homes ($192K less) · newer homes
Bloomington, IN 47408 78%1,903$45,644$346,900$188 cheaper homes ($245K less) · larger
Kingston, RI 02881 75%2,577$56,472$575,000$369 smaller
Missoula, MT 59801 72%479$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · older residents
State College, PA 16801 71%2,288$61,836$414,600$228 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger · older residents
Wilmington, NC 28403 71%2,481$54,547$386,700$277 cheaper homes ($206K less) · larger · older residents
Boone, NC 28607 71%2,228$46,639$378,600$314 cheaper homes ($214K less) · larger · less walkable
Charlottesville, VA 22903 70%2,330$69,340$526,200$304 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older residents
Provo, UT 84606 70%641$52,811$443,600$275 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · more renters
Albuquerque, NM 87106 70%1,069$49,781$354,200$242 cheaper homes ($238K less) · larger · older residents
Madison, WI 53715 69%1,675$38,996$450,600$356 cheaper homes ($142K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 69%860$64,626$589,100$399 larger · newer homes
Pullman, WA 99163 69%341$48,231$435,900$228 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Tucson, AZ 85719 68%1,045$42,241$304,300$266 cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 67%617$60,399$949,700$626 pricier homes ($358K more) · larger · less walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 66%614$52,199$548,700$364 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents · more renters
Chico, CA 95926 66%303$61,920$473,600$286 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · older residents
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 65%2,535$55,219$348,600$220 cheaper homes ($244K less) · less walkable
Blacksburg, VA 24060 65%2,257$67,675$447,600$237 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · older residents
Provo, UT 84604 65%639$75,571$582,000$250 higher income ($30K more) · larger
Amherst, MA 01002 64%2,510$70,818$481,100$314 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 64%1,967$64,231$491,200$393 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Laramie, WY 82072 64%909$53,863$324,100$200 cheaper homes ($268K less) · less walkable

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.