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 Bellingham, WA 98225

Bellingham: median income $63,941, home value $631,200, $458/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chico, CA 95926 84%623$61,920$473,600$286 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Birmingham, AL 35209 83%2,109$71,439$504,600$311 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
Arcata, CA 95521 83%550$53,114$501,000$340 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller
Chico, CA 95928 83%625$64,949$503,100$292 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Charlottesville, VA 22903 79%2,293$69,340$526,200$304 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 79%1,087$64,626$589,100$399 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Loma Linda, CA 92354 78%1,050$83,847$564,400$356 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · more walkable
Corvallis, OR 97330 77%290$70,742$526,800$320 cheaper homes ($104K less) · more walkable
Corvallis, OR 97333 77%293$65,191$511,100$351 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · more walkable
Charlotte, NC 28205 76%2,301$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($174K less) · 5 min longer commute · more walkable
Missoula, MT 59802 75%414$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Collins, CO 80521 75%1,020$58,082$564,900$378 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Reno, NV 89503 75%650$66,743$467,200$298 cheaper homes ($164K less) · smaller · more walkable
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 75%934$60,399$949,700$626 pricier homes ($319K more) · smaller · younger residents
Chattanooga, TN 37405 74%2,105$81,337$460,600$297 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller
Durham, NC 27701 73%2,355$69,740$508,900$346 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller · more walkable
Fayetteville, AR 72703 73%1,673$60,568$391,000$240 cheaper homes ($240K less) · newer homes
Moscow, ID 83843 73%291$59,444$380,600$257 cheaper homes ($251K less) · smaller
Durham, NC 27705 72%2,351$73,066$455,000$261 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Knoxville, TN 37919 72%2,127$72,645$526,800$258 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · older residents
Provo, UT 84604 72%792$75,571$582,000$250 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85014 72%1,182$66,731$476,100$298 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller · older residents
San Diego, CA 92115 72%1,140$79,199$799,200$585 pricier homes ($168K more) · more walkable
Blacksburg, VA 24060 71%2,235$67,675$447,600$237 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Nashville, TN 37209 71%1,990$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($101K less) · newer homes

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.