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 Aurora, CO 80010

Aurora: median income $63,579, home value $424,600, $305/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sacramento, CA 95815 95%890$60,097$346,500$328 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Lake Worth, FL 33460 94%1,688$62,090$405,400$357 Very close on everything we compare
Stockton, CA 95207 93%892$69,455$432,800$261 Very close on everything we compare
Sacramento, CA 95824 92%891$56,477$345,300$339 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Tacoma, WA 98409 92%1,020$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98444 92%1,017$65,342$416,400$310 newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85006 91%588$58,248$408,100$311 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Sparks, NV 89431 91%791$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Portland, OR 97233 90%979$60,198$414,600$267 older residents
Sacramento, CA 95842 89%884$68,276$413,700$313 newer homes
Salem, OR 97301 89%991$60,422$341,000$260 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 88%1,702$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Miami, FL 33169 88%1,710$62,562$403,200$328 more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 88%1,703$53,973$309,300$302 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger
Fresno, CA 93705 88%836$57,003$305,000$254 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Lakewood, WA 98499 88%1,019$67,292$408,500$327 Very close on everything we compare
Miami, FL 33162 87%1,712$60,692$403,300$355 older residents · more homeowners
West Sacramento, CA 95605 87%895$71,924$428,900$356 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Sacramento, CA 95821 87%887$64,963$496,500$356 pricier homes ($72K more) · older residents
Sacramento, CA 95823 87%892$66,895$401,500$308 larger · newer homes
Yuba City, CA 95991 87%894$70,590$406,800$254 newer homes
Plainfield, NJ 07060 86%1,601$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33161 86%1,714$58,325$441,700$405 older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85029 86%584$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more homeowners
San Bernardino, CA 92404 86%785$66,701$426,300$356 5 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.