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 Ashland, OR 97520

Ashland: median income $67,948, home value $580,400, $315/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Fe, NM 87505 91%1,010$78,247$507,800$374 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older residents
Asheville, NC 28805 87%2,188$75,151$412,500$281 cheaper homes ($168K less)
Boise, ID 83703 85%341$76,910$508,000$353 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · younger residents
Asheville, NC 28803 83%2,189$76,662$452,900$306 cheaper homes ($128K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Lexington, KY 40502 83%2,023$76,948$517,900$253 cheaper homes ($63K less) · younger residents · older homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80904 82%963$69,814$440,000$264 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Reno, NV 89509 82%239$86,126$703,700$385 pricier homes ($123K more) · younger residents
Knoxville, TN 37919 81%2,102$72,645$526,800$258 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents
Missoula, MT 59804 80%529$76,266$588,400$351 smaller
Charlottesville, VA 22901 79%2,322$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($79K less) · younger residents
Asheville, NC 28804 79%2,183$88,312$566,000$324 younger residents · more homeowners
South Portland, ME 04106 78%2,610$86,188$438,800$367 cheaper homes ($142K less) · younger residents
Boise, ID 83702 78%343$85,733$777,100$469 pricier homes ($197K more) · younger residents
Montpelier, VT 05602 77%2,488$81,320$360,000$259 cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller · older homes
Charlottesville, VA 22902 77%2,328$93,463$436,200$290 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($144K less) · younger residents
Helena, MT 59601 77%608$72,290$386,500$256 cheaper homes ($194K less) · younger residents
Missoula, MT 59802 77%537$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($119K less) · younger residents
Metairie, LA 70005 77%1,987$89,194$430,200$249 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Tucson, AZ 85704 77%935$81,696$423,900$232 cheaper homes ($157K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Richmond, VA 23227 76%2,391$69,187$364,900$242 cheaper homes ($216K less) · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 76%572$87,813$648,900$314 pricier homes ($69K more) · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40243 75%1,964$77,587$323,200$196 cheaper homes ($257K less) · smaller
Traverse City, MI 49684 75%1,849$80,788$420,200$332 cheaper homes ($160K less) · less walkable
Albuquerque, NM 87111 75%997$90,290$379,500$235 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger
Olympia, WA 98502 75%340$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents · 6 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.