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 Tacoma, WA 98465

Tacoma: median income $73,226, home value $593,300, $341/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portland, OR 97216 87%120$70,442$450,800$329 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80215 86%1,012$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 84%1,011$89,627$609,800$331 larger
Portland, OR 97218 83%117$88,924$496,600$316 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97222 83%125$83,119$490,900$316 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 82%2,718$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Englewood, CO 80110 82%1,020$85,900$497,300$284 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · younger residents
Miami, FL 33145 81%2,732$73,995$581,600$485 larger · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 81%2,715$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80904 81%1,060$69,814$440,000$264 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97220 81%118$70,137$450,200$325 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Stamford, CT 06906 80%2,425$93,675$596,800$402 more apartments and townhomes
Delray Beach, FL 33444 80%2,705$72,925$464,100$450 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · newer homes
Denver, CO 80223 80%1,018$79,151$539,900$355 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · younger residents
Beaverton, OR 97008 80%125$96,116$578,100$338 larger
Hyattsville, MD 20781 79%2,335$86,018$465,100$308 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Petersburg, FL 33705 79%2,529$73,027$365,600$297 cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78721 79%1,766$84,573$523,000$328 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · younger residents
Denver, CO 80236 79%1,019$86,115$531,700$240 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · younger residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 79%1,061$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85013 79%1,095$71,966$567,700$315 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more renters
Somers Point, NJ 08244 78%2,432$70,255$310,400$365 cheaper homes ($283K less)
Miami, FL 33166 78%2,725$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75208 78%1,676$81,950$438,400$281 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger · younger residents
Denver, CO 80226 78%1,014$82,300$568,300$267 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger

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.