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 Olympia, WA 98502

Olympia: median income $92,207, home value $537,200, $326/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tampa, FL 33611 94%2,549$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85044 94%1,114$96,820$474,800$281 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Portland, OR 97223 94%116$106,757$600,300$312 pricier homes ($63K more)
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 93%2,487$89,185$452,700$340 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Orlando, FL 32819 93%2,570$98,109$489,700$278 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Fort Collins, CO 80524 93%1,000$85,035$561,400$274 Very close on everything we compare
Fresno, CA 93720 93%728$105,050$477,800$275 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Tualatin, OR 97062 93%120$105,407$640,300$293 pricier homes ($103K more)
Asheville, NC 28803 92%2,221$76,662$452,900$306 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Maitland, FL 32751 92%2,566$95,387$453,700$291 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Fort Collins, CO 80526 92%1,000$88,686$551,800$273 younger residents
Reno, NV 89523 92%547$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($70K more)
Charlottesville, VA 22901 91%2,313$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Littleton, CO 80120 91%1,041$94,296$628,300$289 pricier homes ($91K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 91%1,083$89,984$574,100$224 pricier homes ($37K more)
Sacramento, CA 95831 91%600$100,751$642,700$346 pricier homes ($106K more)
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 90%2,382$101,901$457,600$362 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Cary, NC 27511 90%2,387$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Fort Collins, CO 80525 90%1,002$91,636$588,400$265 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 90%1,013$81,172$509,900$381 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Beaverton, OR 97008 90%115$96,116$578,100$338 pricier homes ($41K more) · more walkable
Portland, OR 97224 90%118$98,125$599,600$288 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Charleston, SC 29412 89%2,453$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more homeowners
Plano, TX 75075 89%1,685$98,365$428,000$219 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Austin, TX 78745 89%1,780$86,109$504,800$291 cheaper homes ($32K 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.