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 98226

Bellingham: median income $79,375, home value $607,600, $376/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 92%270$77,864$498,300$313 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Chico, CA 95973 92%622$92,813$489,900$313 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 91%1,089$81,172$509,900$381 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more walkable
Kalispell, MT 59901 90%375$72,523$476,300$334 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Reno, NV 89523 88%653$99,061$607,300$352 Very close on everything we compare
Saint George, UT 84770 87%922$70,024$458,300$269 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Bend, OR 97701 87%330$87,739$626,100$342 more walkable
Redmond, OR 97756 86%318$87,278$489,900$318 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Loveland, CO 80537 85%1,029$86,325$484,300$252 cheaper homes ($123K less) · 7 min longer commute
Arden, NC 28704 84%2,211$81,096$390,000$273 cheaper homes ($218K less) · smaller
Belgrade, MT 59714 84%569$96,183$548,600$316 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · younger residents
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 84%379$76,617$488,800$399 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
Fort Collins, CO 80524 83%1,021$85,035$561,400$274 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Sandpoint, ID 83864 83%272$70,496$516,500$381 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · older residents
Atascadero, CA 93422 83%925$91,780$737,600$438 pricier homes ($130K more) · older homes
Beaverton, OR 97003 83%227$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · younger residents
Durango, CO 81303 82%1,089$88,103$597,300$403 smaller
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 82%271$74,782$589,600$419 smaller · older residents · older homes
Moab, UT 84532 82%955$68,444$549,400$392 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Mckinney, TX 75069 81%1,711$85,327$432,600$242 cheaper homes ($175K less) · 5 min longer commute
Durango, CO 81301 81%1,080$83,943$695,800$506 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Grand Junction, CO 81505 81%958$90,830$467,800$294 cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller
Henderson, NV 89012 81%960$98,053$494,700$293 cheaper homes ($113K less) · more walkable
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 81%713$98,191$693,000$446 pricier homes ($85K more)
Mckinleyville, CA 95519 81%548$73,280$469,400$317 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller · more single-family 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.