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 98229

Bellingham: median income $90,945, home value $633,500, $390/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charleston, SC 29412 91%2,442$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Asheville, NC 28804 88%2,200$88,312$566,000$324 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more walkable
Fort Collins, CO 80524 88%1,016$85,035$561,400$274 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Durango, CO 81301 87%1,074$83,943$695,800$506 pricier homes ($62K more)
Flagstaff, AZ 86005 87%1,084$87,942$599,900$420 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · more renters
Hood River, OR 97031 87%213$91,858$691,200$409 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · more walkable
Chico, CA 95973 86%615$92,813$489,900$313 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Missoula, MT 59803 85%410$111,925$556,000$283 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 85%1,082$81,172$509,900$381 cheaper homes ($124K less) · more walkable
Reno, NV 89523 85%646$99,061$607,300$352 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Belgrade, MT 59714 83%565$96,183$548,600$316 cheaper homes ($85K less) · newer homes
Bend, OR 97702 83%327$96,112$695,500$376 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more walkable
Jupiter, FL 33458 82%2,705$109,729$604,500$391 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more walkable
Hartland, WI 53029 82%1,668$108,152$478,700$250 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78750 82%1,805$121,563$601,800$299 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($32K less)
Denver, CO 80228 82%1,053$113,977$641,300$291 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 82%1,109$89,984$574,100$224 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more walkable
Garden City, ID 83714 82%451$87,651$496,800$336 cheaper homes ($137K less) · more walkable · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85024 82%1,168$106,724$471,000$303 cheaper homes ($163K less) · younger residents
Golden, CO 80401 81%1,050$118,039$804,500$350 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($171K more)
Durango, CO 81303 81%1,083$88,103$597,300$403 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Sherwood, OR 97140 81%232$123,228$653,600$322 higher income ($32K more)
Saco, ME 04072 80%2,466$92,241$413,100$329 cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller · older residents
Essex Junction, VT 05452 80%2,318$101,349$432,400$265 cheaper homes ($201K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Orlando, FL 32836 80%2,572$111,987$677,800$307 pricier homes ($44K more) · 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.