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 Arvada, CO 80004

Arvada: median income $103,659, home value $616,700, $268/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fair Oaks, CA 95628 93%866$115,803$651,400$340 pricier homes ($35K more)
Portland, OR 97267 93%967$87,418$533,400$295 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 92%1,716$93,603$495,000$298 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 92%356$115,515$659,900$294 pricier homes ($43K more)
Sandy, UT 84094 89%360$106,732$528,700$264 cheaper homes ($88K less) · younger residents
Everett, WA 98203 89%1,017$107,376$608,600$359 Very close on everything we compare
Langhorne, PA 19047 88%1,591$109,530$467,000$285 cheaper homes ($150K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Wilmington, DE 19810 88%1,564$112,775$440,600$239 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Downers Grove, IL 60516 88%903$115,480$441,100$261 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Fresno, CA 93711 88%823$104,176$494,200$250 cheaper homes ($123K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Lincoln, RI 02865 87%1,755$105,958$470,300$260 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller · less walkable
Orlando, FL 32806 87%1,560$89,046$441,300$288 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Saint Petersburg, FL 33703 87%1,527$95,224$441,400$322 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Rocklin, CA 95677 87%864$105,713$654,200$349 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98406 87%1,008$104,264$638,400$347 more renters
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 86%1,584$128,295$560,200$257 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Roseville, CA 95661 86%864$105,925$687,800$366 pricier homes ($71K more) · newer homes
Portland, OR 97224 86%976$98,125$599,600$288 newer homes
Cumberland, RI 02864 85%1,755$117,522$431,000$281 cheaper homes ($186K less) · less walkable
Freehold, NJ 07728 85%1,624$114,072$505,400$342 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Middlesex, NJ 08846 85%1,609$105,000$446,400$378 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller
Longwood, FL 32750 85%1,552$86,125$383,000$234 cheaper homes ($234K less)
Mount Prospect, IL 60056 85%908$101,922$397,200$272 cheaper homes ($220K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Salem, OR 97304 85%980$98,031$499,300$260 cheaper homes ($117K less) · newer homes
Albany, OR 97321 85%978$99,416$473,100$267 cheaper homes ($144K less) · newer homes

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.