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 Spokane, WA 99207

Spokane: median income $60,452, home value $274,100, $185/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Paul, MN 55106 92%1,171$70,187$241,800$176 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55411 90%1,158$60,225$245,400$145 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Dallas, TX 75224 90%1,490$51,919$239,600$207 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76111 90%1,469$60,194$216,400$188 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Fresno, CA 93728 90%766$62,986$274,200$221 smaller · more renters
Racine, WI 53403 89%1,471$59,820$176,000$188 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76103 89%1,472$60,172$205,000$171 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23513 88%2,201$68,380$234,000$200 cheaper homes ($40K less) · newer homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 88%1,564$61,461$199,300$188 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76110 88%1,472$69,790$258,000$231 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78210 88%1,617$55,028$189,400$174 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 5 min longer commute
Richmond, VA 23222 87%2,120$61,345$274,800$218 Very close on everything we compare
Savannah, GA 31404 87%2,181$53,303$215,500$209 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32211 87%2,235$57,021$229,700$179 cheaper homes ($44K less) · newer homes
Wyoming, MI 49509 87%1,563$65,132$202,100$208 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53219 86%1,454$70,388$203,900$211 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents
Houston, TX 77023 86%1,707$51,430$302,300$188 pricier homes ($28K more)
Des Moines, IA 50315 85%1,237$60,590$173,200$187 cheaper homes ($101K less) · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55429 85%1,155$72,253$280,900$179 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Portsmouth, VA 23707 84%2,198$48,926$230,800$178 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33604 84%2,309$58,766$311,900$275 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Chattanooga, TN 37404 84%1,862$56,637$255,400$195 smaller
Columbus, OH 43204 84%1,775$59,266$185,800$162 cheaper homes ($88K less) · less walkable
Joliet, IL 60436 84%1,490$62,961$180,800$182 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80909 84%878$64,035$386,200$192 pricier homes ($112K more) · newer homes

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.