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 33315

Fort Lauderdale: median income $88,309, home value $498,100, $404/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98148 94%2,713$87,342$607,900$331 pricier homes ($110K more)
Stamford, CT 06906 90%1,102$93,675$596,800$402 pricier homes ($99K more) · older homes
Little Ferry, NJ 07643 90%1,078$85,750$429,300$384 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Bound Brook, NJ 08805 90%1,050$93,341$417,800$331 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
Port Hueneme, CA 93041 90%2,383$90,592$586,600$465 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 89%1,080$101,740$483,700$369 larger · older homes
Harbor City, CA 90710 89%2,331$82,478$689,300$553 pricier homes ($191K more) · larger
Haverhill, MA 01832 88%1,261$83,041$429,000$320 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Woodbridge, NJ 07095 88%1,054$104,926$390,000$416 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Raritan, NJ 08869 88%1,049$107,672$456,900$350 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80226 88%1,716$82,300$568,300$267 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Norwalk, CT 06854 87%1,105$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · less walkable
Arvada, CO 80002 87%1,719$93,362$558,500$322 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 86%1,718$89,627$609,800$331 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Englewood, CO 80110 86%1,710$85,900$497,300$284 larger
Beaverton, OR 97005 86%2,697$78,239$504,300$299 larger · more renters
Everett, WA 98201 86%2,719$74,554$499,800$384 larger · older homes
Tacoma, WA 98466 86%2,718$101,778$602,400$351 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Parlin, NJ 08859 85%1,047$99,882$445,800$372 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80214 85%1,716$75,575$559,100$387 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · younger residents
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 85%1,963$86,962$506,300$368 larger
Portland, OR 97222 85%2,687$83,119$490,900$316 larger · more single-family homes
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 85%2,720$107,687$667,100$438 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98188 85%2,711$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Rahway, NJ 07065 84%1,058$91,461$386,400$395 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · 7 min longer 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.