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 80012

Aurora: median income $73,000, home value $429,500, $216/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pompano Beach, FL 33065 95%1,691$74,226$434,100$271 Very close on everything we compare
Gresham, OR 97030 93%978$69,239$435,700$254 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33351 92%1,694$77,363$371,400$256 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Houston, TX 77080 92%863$62,134$345,000$199 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Federal Way, WA 98003 92%1,018$75,319$476,600$314 pricier homes ($47K more)
Mesa, AZ 85202 91%585$71,619$370,900$255 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Stockton, CA 95207 91%894$69,455$432,800$261 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 90%1,699$77,321$337,700$281 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Tacoma, WA 98409 90%1,022$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Providence, RI 02904 89%1,743$67,003$339,900$249 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30340 89%1,204$62,748$344,000$204 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 89%1,534$70,955$325,300$204 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 89%1,699$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Mesa, AZ 85210 89%584$61,957$337,800$260 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Marietta, GA 30060 88%1,188$67,510$316,000$231 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Winter Park, FL 32792 88%1,542$69,200$374,200$256 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Houston, TX 77043 88%862$79,359$411,100$206 smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85022 88%579$69,927$425,200$290 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85029 88%583$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($84K less) · more single-family homes
Auburn, WA 98002 88%1,013$78,684$421,300$322 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23462 87%1,562$69,040$286,500$213 cheaper homes ($143K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Lake Worth, FL 33461 87%1,684$61,963$301,200$196 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84123 87%380$81,271$464,500$242 pricier homes ($35K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Mesa, AZ 85203 87%580$73,578$439,100$262 more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97233 87%981$60,198$414,600$267 Very close on everything we compare

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.