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 Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Oak Harbor: median income $83,253, home value $499,600, $317/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sparks, NV 89434 95%623$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Redding, CA 96003 91%531$72,445$402,900$254 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Saint George, UT 84770 90%899$70,024$458,300$269 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 89%273$77,864$498,300$313 older residents
Post Falls, ID 83854 89%267$82,742$489,800$291 newer homes
Ogden, UT 84401 89%716$80,758$439,900$223 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Cathedral City, CA 92234 89%1,052$73,572$453,100$290 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents
Fresno, CA 93727 89%813$87,466$395,800$255 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97003 89%193$99,072$478,300$313 Very close on everything we compare
Beaverton, OR 97078 89%198$90,606$478,800$318 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Naples, FL 34116 88%2,674$73,958$430,200$311 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Chandler, AZ 85225 88%1,178$88,676$430,400$283 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Carson City, NV 89701 88%649$73,184$444,500$299 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents
Chico, CA 95973 88%589$92,813$489,900$313 Very close on everything we compare
Mcminnville, OR 97128 88%216$75,896$457,600$288 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · more walkable
Kalispell, MT 59901 87%383$72,523$476,300$334 larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 87%1,100$87,685$442,200$208 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Layton, UT 84041 87%722$89,604$443,100$229 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 87%1,067$81,172$509,900$381 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89183 87%932$87,355$442,100$254 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Reno, NV 89506 87%615$86,396$410,700$294 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Visalia, CA 93277 87%846$80,548$350,400$242 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Fresno, CA 93722 87%808$80,285$378,500$253 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Troutdale, OR 97060 87%193$88,279$443,600$286 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · more walkable
Springfield, OR 97478 87%295$80,086$387,700$305 cheaper homes ($112K less)

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.