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.

Reset

Towns most like Olympia, WA 98501

Olympia: median income $97,198, home value $529,300, $299/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85044 95%1,104$96,820$474,800$281 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Fresno, CA 93711 95%721$104,176$494,200$250 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Portland, OR 97223 95%109$106,757$600,300$312 pricier homes ($71K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 94%1,072$89,984$574,100$224 pricier homes ($45K more)
Fresno, CA 93720 94%719$105,050$477,800$275 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Fort Collins, CO 80524 93%990$85,035$561,400$274 pricier homes ($32K more)
Cary, NC 27511 92%2,379$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Charleston, SC 29412 92%2,444$101,509$504,500$355 Very close on everything we compare
Tualatin, OR 97062 92%113$105,407$640,300$293 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller
Salem, OR 97304 92%142$98,031$499,300$260 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Salem, OR 97306 92%148$101,753$463,100$267 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 91%2,469$102,796$416,700$262 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Plano, TX 75075 91%1,674$98,365$428,000$219 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Fort Collins, CO 80526 91%990$88,686$551,800$273 younger residents
Chandler, AZ 85226 91%1,107$114,817$483,800$303 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Reno, NV 89523 91%538$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($78K more) · newer homes
Portland, OR 97224 91%111$98,125$599,600$288 pricier homes ($70K more) · older residents
Broomfield, CO 80020 90%1,015$117,243$601,800$262 pricier homes ($73K more)
Fort Collins, CO 80525 90%992$91,636$588,400$265 pricier homes ($59K more)
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 90%1,002$81,172$509,900$381 Very close on everything we compare
Rocklin, CA 95677 90%574$105,713$654,200$349 pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 89%2,461$94,069$418,000$247 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Littleton, CO 80123 89%1,026$105,932$620,100$284 pricier homes ($91K more) · 5 min longer commute
Chandler, AZ 85224 89%1,107$94,516$438,700$298 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Albuquerque, NM 87111 89%1,178$90,290$379,500$235 cheaper homes ($150K 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.