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 Spokane, WA 99205

Spokane: median income $77,374, home value $327,400, $190/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minneapolis, MN 55412 86%1,161$68,682$232,100$189 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Springfield, MA 01118 84%2,200$80,250$275,100$242 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76110 84%1,474$69,790$258,000$231 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Cranston, RI 02910 83%2,260$90,698$338,700$271 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Des Moines, IA 50310 83%1,235$76,381$222,700$212 cheaper homes ($105K less)
South Saint Paul, MN 55075 82%1,176$88,386$281,700$196 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Minneapolis, MN 55430 82%1,160$75,716$256,800$179 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Norfolk, VA 23509 81%2,203$72,816$258,000$211 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Butte, MT 59701 81%257$60,437$248,200$181 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Wilmington, DE 19804 80%2,132$79,701$264,100$219 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Hampton, VA 23661 80%2,193$65,446$220,500$197 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller · older residents
Racine, WI 53405 79%1,473$69,242$174,000$185 cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55420 79%1,166$82,170$328,400$207 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Ogden, UT 84403 79%525$88,236$422,900$214 pricier homes ($96K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Merchantville, NJ 08109 77%2,151$90,242$252,000$222 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Tonawanda, NY 14150 77%1,881$71,406$200,700$205 cheaper homes ($127K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Sioux City, IA 51106 77%1,086$78,434$200,200$158 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Bellwood, IL 60104 77%1,494$79,513$230,000$219 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Franklin Park, IL 60131 77%1,493$76,658$287,000$278 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Schenectady, NY 12306 76%2,113$83,202$222,500$213 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Cleveland, OH 44129 76%1,794$70,651$166,400$175 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Stockton, CA 95204 76%700$75,548$387,100$285 pricier homes ($60K more) · 8 min longer commute · more renters
Warwick, RI 02889 75%2,264$83,946$336,000$297 smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Trenton, NJ 08610 75%2,159$83,906$264,600$282 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Portsmouth, VA 23701 75%2,201$62,349$235,200$203 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute

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.