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 Vancouver, WA 98663

Vancouver: median income $86,018, home value $450,300, $299/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80236 91%984$86,115$531,700$240 pricier homes ($81K more)
Sacramento, CA 95827 91%494$85,841$437,300$332 Very close on everything we compare
Warwick, RI 02886 90%2,530$92,047$366,400$285 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97078 90%15$90,606$478,800$318 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · newer homes
Glendale, AZ 85306 89%999$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · newer homes
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 89%851$83,628$517,600$344 pricier homes ($67K more)
Fresno, CA 93704 89%629$73,234$401,600$252 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Woodland, CA 95695 89%484$79,486$547,400$342 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95822 89%497$86,801$466,000$345 larger
Astoria, OR 97103 89%65$75,147$460,100$292 Very close on everything we compare
Riverside, RI 02915 88%2,532$84,414$357,600$305 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents
Tampa, FL 33603 88%2,501$74,081$391,000$322 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Englewood, CO 80110 88%986$85,900$497,300$284 pricier homes ($47K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Ogden, UT 84403 88%619$88,236$422,900$214 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Salem, OR 97302 88%55$85,833$446,400$268 larger
Salem, OR 97317 88%53$84,393$402,800$299 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Eugene, OR 97404 88%110$86,776$424,800$294 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Keansburg, NJ 07734 87%2,439$82,029$346,900$340 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Denver, CO 80221 87%979$86,810$472,900$272 larger
Portland, OR 97220 87%9$70,137$450,200$325 larger · more walkable
Portland, OR 97222 87%15$83,119$490,900$316 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Salem, OR 97303 87%49$84,871$433,900$263 larger · newer homes
Junction City, OR 97448 87%104$81,029$478,700$288 pricier homes ($28K more)
Cranston, RI 02920 86%2,527$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23518 86%2,449$77,594$300,700$238 cheaper homes ($150K 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.