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 Thornton, CO 80241

Thornton: median income $110,218, home value $542,100, $234/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 92%1,704$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($35K more)
Stockton, CA 95219 90%889$112,268$581,300$270 pricier homes ($39K more) · more renters
Newberg, OR 97132 90%987$96,493$522,900$310 Very close on everything we compare
Modesto, CA 95356 89%876$96,886$532,600$278 Very close on everything we compare
West Sacramento, CA 95691 89%891$104,750$555,800$300 5 min shorter commute
Gilbert, AZ 85233 88%589$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more single-family homes
Woodland, CA 95776 88%899$106,698$575,700$304 pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Hillsboro, OR 97123 88%990$109,985$538,500$298 7 min shorter commute
Federal Way, WA 98023 88%1,007$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($48K more)
Auburn, WA 98092 88%996$122,300$635,900$324 pricier homes ($94K more)
Manassas, VA 20110 87%1,466$118,486$464,300$271 cheaper homes ($78K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Manassas, VA 20111 87%1,467$113,879$476,000$258 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bel Air, MD 21014 87%1,515$116,970$429,900$207 cheaper homes ($112K less) · older residents
Salem, OR 97306 87%983$101,753$463,100$267 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Glen Burnie, MD 21060 86%1,508$104,715$377,100$229 cheaper homes ($165K less) · older homes
Frederick, MD 21702 86%1,457$106,983$426,300$223 cheaper homes ($116K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Wellington, FL 33414 86%1,686$112,241$578,500$306 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Tampa, FL 33625 86%1,514$93,133$380,800$249 cheaper homes ($161K less)
West Jordan, UT 84088 86%372$105,142$482,500$241 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Mesa, AZ 85213 86%582$103,969$438,900$270 cheaper homes ($103K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Peoria, AZ 85381 86%590$96,746$447,900$236 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older residents
Sacramento, CA 95835 86%886$114,468$607,200$276 pricier homes ($65K more)
Sandy, OR 97055 86%954$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Gresham, OR 97080 86%965$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Forest Grove, OR 97116 86%1,002$92,613$495,800$262 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older homes

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.