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 80011

Aurora: median income $74,022, home value $409,100, $235/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sacramento, CA 95842 93%887$68,276$413,700$313 smaller
Yuba City, CA 95991 93%897$70,590$406,800$254 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, OR 97305 93%990$66,326$372,200$277 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Stockton, CA 95207 92%895$69,455$432,800$261 more renters
Marysville, CA 95901 92%890$69,776$381,000$264 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Portland, OR 97236 92%981$75,090$436,100$281 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85029 91%586$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Mesa, AZ 85204 91%584$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Stockton, CA 95210 91%893$67,991$362,300$281 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Glen Burnie, MD 21061 90%1,498$87,751$339,100$236 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Marietta, GA 30060 90%1,187$67,510$316,000$231 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 90%1,699$77,321$337,700$281 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Mesa, AZ 85203 90%583$73,578$439,100$262 pricier homes ($30K more)
Glendale, AZ 85302 90%590$65,132$364,100$230 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Merced, CA 95348 90%863$64,944$383,600$248 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Sacramento, CA 95823 90%894$66,895$401,500$308 larger
Auburn, WA 98002 90%1,013$78,684$421,300$322 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98409 90%1,022$73,348$394,500$317 smaller
Tacoma, WA 98444 90%1,019$65,342$416,400$310 smaller
Miami, FL 33169 89%1,708$62,562$403,200$328 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85051 89%588$69,189$326,300$221 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Pompano Beach, FL 33065 88%1,691$74,226$434,100$271 pricier homes ($25K more)
Pompano Beach, FL 33068 88%1,695$64,051$327,600$260 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75228 88%658$62,667$282,700$214 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Houston, TX 77080 88%864$62,134$345,000$199 cheaper homes ($64K less)

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.