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 Vancouver, WA 98664

Vancouver: median income $85,369, home value $467,200, $296/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beaverton, OR 97078 96%16$90,606$478,800$318 Very close on everything we compare
Sparks, NV 89434 95%444$91,507$457,000$302 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 93%848$83,628$517,600$344 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Junction City, OR 97448 93%103$81,029$478,700$288 smaller
Salem, OR 97317 91%52$84,393$402,800$299 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 90%2,454$79,085$346,600$250 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 90%1,018$87,685$442,200$208 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Salem, OR 97304 90%52$98,031$499,300$260 pricier homes ($32K more)
Stayton, OR 97383 90%57$78,853$423,600$288 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Springfield, OR 97478 90%110$80,086$387,700$305 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Warwick, RI 02886 89%2,526$92,047$366,400$285 cheaper homes ($101K less) · older homes
Neptune, NJ 07753 89%2,445$95,712$425,800$371 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Hatfield, PA 19440 89%2,384$99,408$438,500$258 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Hanahan, SC 29410 89%2,406$87,984$374,800$250 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Waukesha, WI 53188 89%1,692$92,409$348,600$237 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Loveland, CO 80537 89%952$86,325$484,300$252 larger · newer homes
Glendale, AZ 85306 89%995$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more walkable
Forest Grove, OR 97116 89%29$92,613$495,800$262 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Salem, OR 97302 89%55$85,833$446,400$268 larger · more walkable
Colchester, VT 05446 88%2,371$97,475$393,200$282 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 88%2,450$94,069$418,000$247 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 88%2,443$89,185$452,700$340 Very close on everything we compare
Tampa, FL 33624 88%2,489$87,760$386,100$252 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33634 88%2,491$74,291$346,400$272 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Lake Geneva, WI 53147 88%1,693$83,566$369,100$287 cheaper homes ($98K 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.