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 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Fort Lauderdale: median income $75,952, home value $423,300, $350/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Citrus Heights, CA 95621 95%2,528$80,901$432,500$321 Very close on everything we compare
New Bedford, MA 02745 92%1,199$74,034$368,600$316 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97236 92%2,682$75,090$436,100$281 Very close on everything we compare
Taunton, MA 02780 91%1,208$74,471$413,900$326 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, OR 97230 91%2,683$75,572$450,700$255 pricier homes ($27K more)
Modesto, CA 95350 90%2,503$75,621$429,400$312 Very close on everything we compare
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 90%2,526$83,327$485,900$319 pricier homes ($63K more)
Portland, OR 97266 90%2,684$72,577$445,700$302 Very close on everything we compare
Seattle, WA 98168 90%2,712$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($125K more)
Brockton, MA 02302 89%1,221$92,274$424,800$366 Very close on everything we compare
West Warwick, RI 02893 89%1,185$77,608$330,800$268 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Cranston, RI 02920 89%1,191$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 5 min shorter commute
South Amboy, NJ 08879 89%1,049$92,786$389,800$360 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95827 89%2,528$85,841$437,300$332 smaller
Leominster, MA 01453 88%1,231$84,296$381,300$280 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Haverhill, MA 01832 88%1,261$83,041$429,000$320 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 88%2,525$89,484$491,100$319 pricier homes ($68K more)
Woodland, CA 95695 88%2,554$79,486$547,400$342 pricier homes ($124K more)
Salem, OR 97303 88%2,697$84,871$433,900$263 newer homes
Lakewood, WA 98498 88%2,716$91,664$506,300$324 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Webster, MA 01570 87%1,200$72,895$361,500$279 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Bensalem, PA 19020 87%1,014$83,223$362,800$256 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85023 87%1,974$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · newer homes
Colton, CA 92324 87%2,272$71,078$445,100$372 younger residents
Ukiah, CA 95482 87%2,632$69,772$491,300$343 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · 6 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.