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 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Fort Lauderdale: median income $53,973, home value $309,300, $302/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Las Vegas, NV 89104 93%2,165$52,228$325,500$256 smaller
Portland, OR 97233 91%2,680$60,198$414,600$267 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller
Salem, OR 97301 90%2,694$60,422$341,000$260 pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Kennewick, WA 99336 90%2,542$62,527$324,400$240 5 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75228 89%1,093$62,667$282,700$214 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85029 89%1,974$64,556$345,600$249 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Sparks, NV 89431 89%2,453$66,592$365,100$294 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Fresno, CA 93705 89%2,431$57,003$305,000$254 smaller
Eugene, OR 97402 89%2,687$57,658$357,700$289 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Aurora, CO 80010 88%1,703$63,579$424,600$305 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller
Las Vegas, NV 89108 88%2,172$59,449$334,100$243 newer homes
Las Vegas, NV 89121 88%2,164$55,758$308,500$215 Very close on everything we compare
Bakersfield, CA 93309 88%2,379$63,544$320,400$230 5 min shorter commute
Sacramento, CA 95815 88%2,533$60,097$346,500$328 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95824 88%2,532$56,477$345,300$339 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
San Bernardino, CA 92410 87%2,273$54,181$302,600$388 smaller
Charlotte, NC 28208 86%630$55,431$236,300$231 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Madison, TN 37115 86%798$54,566$307,500$220 smaller
Mesa, AZ 85210 86%1,956$61,957$337,800$260 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · newer homes
Fresno, CA 93726 86%2,427$55,771$294,800$240 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Sacramento, CA 95823 86%2,532$66,895$401,500$308 pricier homes ($92K more) · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23223 85%805$55,731$265,200$238 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77080 85%970$62,134$345,000$199 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98444 85%2,710$65,342$416,400$310 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30315 84%580$50,822$317,700$200 smaller

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.