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 33317

Fort Lauderdale: median income $93,603, home value $495,000, $298/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arvada, CO 80003 96%1,714$91,464$534,700$265 pricier homes ($40K more)
Denver, CO 80232 95%1,711$96,217$521,600$251 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Portland, OR 97267 94%2,683$87,418$533,400$295 pricier homes ($38K more)
Arvada, CO 80004 92%1,716$103,659$616,700$268 pricier homes ($122K more)
Denver, CO 80221 92%1,711$86,810$472,900$272 younger residents
Everett, WA 98203 92%2,715$107,376$608,600$359 pricier homes ($114K more)
Methuen, MA 01844 91%1,257$113,212$499,800$341 Very close on everything we compare
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 91%1,194$102,079$484,800$309 smaller
Lanham, MD 20706 91%909$104,523$429,000$242 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Orangevale, CA 95662 91%2,520$96,689$558,300$352 pricier homes ($63K more)
Lakewood, WA 98498 91%2,713$91,664$506,300$324 more renters
Attleboro, MA 02703 90%1,205$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Neptune, NJ 07753 90%1,036$95,712$425,800$371 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Yucaipa, CA 92399 90%2,256$92,440$511,200$334 Very close on everything we compare
Modesto, CA 95356 90%2,501$96,886$532,600$278 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Dracut, MA 01826 89%1,250$114,196$473,800$353 Very close on everything we compare
Saugus, MA 01906 89%1,244$101,539$603,400$393 pricier homes ($108K more)
Johnston, RI 02919 89%1,193$91,775$355,800$267 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Toms River, NJ 08753 89%1,020$105,224$409,200$323 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Feasterville Trevose, PA 19053 89%1,016$107,780$413,100$267 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 5 min longer commute
Gresham, OR 97080 89%2,675$96,305$502,000$269 newer homes
Seattle, WA 98178 89%2,706$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($165K more)
Puyallup, WA 98371 89%2,704$97,242$556,800$323 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Stoughton, MA 02072 88%1,221$104,794$523,800$335 pricier homes ($29K more) · 5 min longer commute
Keyport, NJ 07735 88%1,048$97,536$406,000$382 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 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.