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 Denver, CO 80229

Denver: median income $84,203, home value $417,500, $264/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portland, OR 97236 93%971$75,090$436,100$281 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Worth, FL 33463 91%1,692$73,865$363,400$242 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Citrus Heights, CA 95621 91%879$80,901$432,500$321 older residents
Hollywood, FL 33024 90%1,711$80,061$409,400$349 Very close on everything we compare
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 90%1,692$77,075$397,800$259 smaller · older residents
Ogden, UT 84401 90%381$80,758$439,900$223 6 min shorter commute
Mesa, AZ 85204 90%587$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 90%877$83,327$485,900$319 pricier homes ($68K more) · more renters
Salem, OR 97303 90%986$84,871$433,900$263 Very close on everything we compare
Glen Burnie, MD 21061 89%1,503$87,751$339,100$236 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85023 89%586$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Mesa, AZ 85203 89%585$73,578$439,100$262 Very close on everything we compare
Highland, CA 92346 89%784$85,163$499,200$331 pricier homes ($82K more) · more single-family homes
Fresno, CA 93727 89%829$87,466$395,800$255 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fairfield, CA 94533 89%923$87,384$542,200$328 pricier homes ($125K more)
Modesto, CA 95355 89%875$86,849$469,000$286 pricier homes ($52K more)
Marysville, CA 95901 89%884$69,776$381,000$264 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Forest Grove, OR 97116 89%1,005$92,613$495,800$262 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 88%1,708$77,321$337,700$281 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85027 88%583$76,605$354,800$268 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Glendale, AZ 85306 88%589$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Rialto, CA 92376 88%793$79,675$463,300$352 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95828 88%887$81,778$409,700$307 more single-family homes
Phoenix, AZ 85053 87%587$70,011$367,000$247 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Peoria, AZ 85345 87%594$67,380$319,800$242 cheaper homes ($98K 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.