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 Miami, FL 33196

Miami: median income $94,961, home value $489,600, $328/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Federal Way, WA 98023 89%2,720$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($100K more)
Manassas, VA 20111 88%922$113,879$476,000$258 younger residents
Temecula, CA 92591 87%2,258$114,160$690,600$359 pricier homes ($201K more)
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 86%1,077$109,312$486,600$372 older homes
Bridgewater, MA 02324 84%1,250$112,726$533,600$318 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Corona, CA 92882 84%2,287$104,457$690,700$435 pricier homes ($201K more)
Kent, WA 98031 84%2,715$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($122K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Milford, MA 01757 83%1,247$96,621$478,100$298 smaller · older homes
Frederick, MD 21702 83%971$106,983$426,300$223 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Thornton, CO 80241 83%1,721$110,218$542,100$234 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · younger residents
Murrieta, CA 92562 83%2,266$114,266$663,600$318 pricier homes ($174K more) · more single-family homes
Newberg, OR 97132 83%2,708$96,493$522,900$310 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Port Orchard, WA 98366 83%2,735$92,011$475,800$313 more single-family homes · older homes
Puyallup, WA 98374 83%2,712$112,662$535,300$284 pricier homes ($46K more)
Loveland, CO 80538 82%1,745$86,671$497,700$248 9 min shorter commute
Peoria, AZ 85382 82%1,977$91,525$438,300$242 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Vallejo, CA 94591 82%2,572$104,550$630,500$352 pricier homes ($141K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Modesto, CA 95356 82%2,505$96,886$532,600$278 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Auburn, WA 98092 82%2,708$122,300$635,900$324 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($146K more)
Puyallup, WA 98371 82%2,716$97,242$556,800$323 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Hackettstown, NJ 07840 81%1,098$105,866$396,100$302 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · less walkable
Oakdale, CA 95361 81%2,495$92,963$516,000$317 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Elk Grove, CA 95758 81%2,534$117,017$582,000$329 pricier homes ($92K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Lynnwood, WA 98036 81%2,728$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($270K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Marysville, WA 98270 81%2,728$108,147$579,900$362 pricier homes ($90K more) · 5 min shorter 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.