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 98516

Olympia: median income $98,892, home value $572,500, $322/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belgrade, MT 59714 96%561$96,183$548,600$316 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89149 93%842$101,697$512,700$243 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Happy Valley, OR 97086 93%116$102,359$697,400$285 pricier homes ($125K more)
Reno, NV 89523 92%544$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($35K more)
Meridian, ID 83642 91%393$96,909$533,600$280 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85024 91%1,085$106,724$471,000$303 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Hillsboro, OR 97123 91%112$109,985$538,500$298 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Redmond, OR 97756 91%210$87,278$489,900$318 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Henderson, NV 89011 90%861$93,136$478,900$248 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older residents
Loveland, CO 80537 89%995$86,325$484,300$252 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · older homes
North Salt Lake, UT 84054 89%691$101,860$505,500$265 cheaper homes ($67K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Garden City, ID 83714 88%392$87,651$496,800$336 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Henderson, NV 89012 88%864$98,053$494,700$293 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89113 88%854$94,461$480,900$263 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more walkable
Salem, OR 97304 88%149$98,031$499,300$260 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older homes
Salem, OR 97306 88%156$101,753$463,100$267 cheaper homes ($109K less) · more walkable
Loveland, CO 80538 87%993$86,671$497,700$248 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Las Vegas, NV 89144 87%847$104,511$548,000$302 smaller · older residents
Sparks, NV 89436 87%540$114,100$588,500$303 larger
Indio, CA 92203 87%984$97,311$553,700$263 more homeowners
Murfreesboro, TN 37129 86%2,013$91,259$422,200$224 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80923 86%1,070$101,565$475,800$203 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Post Falls, ID 83854 86%276$82,742$489,800$291 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Gilbert, AZ 85233 86%1,111$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Peoria, AZ 85382 86%1,083$91,525$438,300$242 cheaper homes ($134K less) · older residents

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.