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 98686

Vancouver: median income $107,801, home value $596,700, $294/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indio, CA 92203 94%892$97,311$553,700$263 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Las Vegas, NV 89144 92%761$104,511$548,000$302 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Lodi, CA 95242 92%528$104,721$567,100$326 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older homes
Canby, OR 97013 92%32$101,832$562,300$317 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Albany, OR 97321 92%77$99,416$473,100$267 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Clovis, CA 93611 91%633$110,982$485,900$270 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Sherwood, OR 97140 91%27$123,228$653,600$322 pricier homes ($57K more)
Belgrade, MT 59714 90%553$96,183$548,600$316 cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents
Hayden, ID 83835 90%314$91,316$562,000$337 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Mesa, AZ 85207 90%1,029$108,699$505,000$282 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Gilbert, AZ 85233 90%1,029$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Las Vegas, NV 89149 90%755$101,697$512,700$243 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Hillsboro, OR 97123 90%22$109,985$538,500$298 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Oregon City, OR 97045 89%26$103,573$587,700$313 larger
Niceville, FL 32578 88%2,202$108,972$447,700$257 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger
Boise, ID 83713 88%341$91,295$454,100$273 cheaper homes ($143K less)
Garden City, ID 83714 88%340$87,651$496,800$336 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Sparks, NV 89436 88%446$114,100$588,500$303 larger
Gorham, ME 04038 87%2,520$112,312$460,900$301 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Hudson, WI 54016 87%1,445$113,085$452,000$224 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger
Woodland Park, CO 80863 87%1,007$104,779$572,100$261 smaller
Henderson, NV 89011 87%775$93,136$478,900$248 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · newer homes
Ripon, CA 95366 87%556$112,097$707,800$373 pricier homes ($111K more)
Sandy, OR 97055 87%30$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($103K less) · 8 min longer commute
Salem, OR 97304 87%56$98,031$499,300$260 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · more renters

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.