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 Portland, OR 97210

Portland: median income $93,621, home value $991,200, $376/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80218 86%984$81,706$676,700$398 cheaper homes ($315K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80206 84%984$101,594$915,400$427 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more homeowners
Sacramento, CA 95816 84%485$90,839$839,700$504 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98403 81%120$88,056$829,800$391 cheaper homes ($161K less) · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19103 76%2,407$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($409K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22305 74%2,349$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98119 74%147$123,551$1,047,600$594 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 73%636$83,916$779,200$375 cheaper homes ($212K less) · larger · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98102 73%146$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · newer homes
Austin, TX 78756 72%1,707$94,701$832,000$500 cheaper homes ($159K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43212 71%2,027$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($458K less) · larger · younger residents
Denver, CO 80205 71%983$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($342K less) · larger · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85012 71%1,004$86,620$735,000$370 cheaper homes ($256K less) · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70130 70%2,062$80,212$562,800$325 cheaper homes ($428K less) · older homes
Providence, RI 02906 69%2,532$103,050$638,600$395 cheaper homes ($353K less) · larger · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19118 69%2,402$109,649$718,300$399 cheaper homes ($273K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
West Hollywood, CA 90069 69%823$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · newer homes
Emeryville, CA 94608 69%532$120,239$849,600$508 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger
Waltham, MA 02453 68%2,526$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($286K less) · larger · younger residents
Watertown, MA 02472 68%2,528$126,336$784,600$507 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($207K less) · larger
Princeton, NJ 08542 68%2,419$105,524$754,100$676 cheaper homes ($237K less) · smaller · older homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 68%2,426$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($520K less) · less walkable
Washington, DC 20008 68%2,346$125,212$965,100$596 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80211 68%980$121,439$807,100$442 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($184K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80209 67%985$125,733$1,018,300$513 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($27K more) · 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.