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 80017

Aurora: median income $80,524, home value $427,100, $222/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ogden, UT 84401 93%391$80,758$439,900$223 6 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97236 92%984$75,090$436,100$281 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 91%1,696$77,321$337,700$281 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84123 91%382$81,271$464,500$242 pricier homes ($37K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Mesa, AZ 85203 91%582$73,578$439,100$262 Very close on everything we compare
Glen Burnie, MD 21061 90%1,497$87,751$339,100$236 cheaper homes ($88K less) · older homes
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 90%1,681$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85027 90%580$76,605$354,800$268 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Mesa, AZ 85204 90%583$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33351 89%1,692$77,363$371,400$256 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85023 89%583$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Yuba City, CA 95991 89%898$70,590$406,800$254 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, OR 97305 89%993$66,326$372,200$277 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Merced, CA 95348 88%864$64,944$383,600$248 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 88%884$83,327$485,900$319 pricier homes ($59K more)
Sacramento, CA 95842 88%888$68,276$413,700$313 Very close on everything we compare
Marysville, CA 95901 88%892$69,776$381,000$264 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Norcross, GA 30071 87%1,203$64,515$369,800$203 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Lake Worth, FL 33463 87%1,681$73,865$363,400$242 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · older residents
West Valley City, UT 84119 87%387$71,378$382,600$248 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Glendale, AZ 85302 87%589$65,132$364,100$230 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Salem, OR 97303 87%998$84,871$433,900$263 more single-family homes
Kent, WA 98030 87%1,018$91,761$582,400$319 pricier homes ($155K more)
Vancouver, WA 98665 87%995$88,559$476,200$274 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents
Pompano Beach, FL 33065 86%1,688$74,226$434,100$271 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.