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 98512

Olympia: median income $101,530, home value $472,100, $316/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belgrade, MT 59714 93%571$96,183$548,600$316 pricier homes ($77K more) · younger residents
Lodi, CA 95242 92%615$104,721$567,100$326 pricier homes ($95K more)
Redmond, OR 97756 92%205$87,278$489,900$318 Very close on everything we compare
Loveland, CO 80537 91%1,001$86,325$484,300$252 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85213 91%1,104$103,969$438,900$270 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more walkable
Hanahan, SC 29410 90%2,438$87,984$374,800$250 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Franklin, WI 53132 90%1,721$109,850$367,500$223 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 90%1,736$105,868$375,600$234 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Forest Lake, MN 55025 90%1,435$98,382$405,000$201 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Helena, MT 59602 90%523$92,985$408,600$270 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Chico, CA 95973 90%497$92,813$489,900$313 Very close on everything we compare
Oregon City, OR 97045 90%113$103,573$587,700$313 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger
Albany, OR 97321 90%159$99,416$473,100$267 more walkable
Saco, ME 04072 89%2,520$92,241$413,100$329 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Colchester, VT 05446 89%2,367$97,475$393,200$282 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Lititz, PA 17543 89%2,349$97,435$348,400$234 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Ashland, VA 23005 89%2,375$89,335$402,700$256 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Sparks, NV 89434 89%537$91,507$457,000$302 Very close on everything we compare
Indio, CA 92203 89%978$97,311$553,700$263 pricier homes ($82K more) · newer homes
Beaverton, OR 97078 89%104$90,606$478,800$318 Very close on everything we compare
Hillsboro, OR 97123 89%100$109,985$538,500$298 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · more walkable
Hooksett, NH 03106 88%2,488$118,442$408,400$273 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 88%2,454$90,013$370,500$283 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Gansevoort, NY 12831 88%2,381$100,024$343,100$264 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller
Lebanon, OH 45036 88%2,002$99,128$352,200$212 cheaper homes ($120K 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.