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 Meridian, ID 83646

Meridian: median income $102,861, home value $542,500, $269/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Las Vegas, NV 89141 92%532$122,339$549,100$241 smaller
Saint George, UT 84790 90%478$91,054$552,700$258 5 min shorter commute
Gilbert, AZ 85296 90%756$118,982$561,400$284 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89131 90%512$116,468$531,900$248 Very close on everything we compare
Bakersfield, CA 93312 90%588$114,195$440,400$242 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Greenacres, WA 99016 90%279$103,472$477,400$263 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Longmont, CO 80504 89%638$113,643$591,700$230 pricier homes ($49K more) · 6 min longer commute
Gilbert, AZ 85234 89%754$121,102$550,900$291 older homes
Las Vegas, NV 89149 89%513$101,697$512,700$243 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Las Vegas, NV 89178 89%532$108,806$470,600$247 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Bakersfield, CA 93311 89%594$116,263$459,500$248 cheaper homes ($83K less) · younger residents
Clovis, CA 93611 89%502$110,982$485,900$270 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Kennewick, WA 99338 89%222$111,042$551,500$275 smaller
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 88%733$122,323$547,500$230 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Sparks, NV 89436 88%325$114,100$588,500$303 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Indio, CA 92203 88%684$97,311$553,700$263 smaller
Windsor, CO 80550 87%630$126,132$582,000$223 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Gilbert, AZ 85233 87%755$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older homes
Gilbert, AZ 85297 87%760$130,755$600,600$271 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Bakersfield, CA 93314 87%589$126,250$543,900$245 smaller
Indian Trail, NC 28079 86%1,983$100,516$395,700$193 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller
Wilmington, NC 28411 86%2,151$97,387$396,400$260 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller
Bluffton, SC 29910 86%2,072$98,912$487,000$259 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Heber City, UT 84032 86%337$103,440$731,800$340 pricier homes ($189K more) · smaller
Ogden, UT 84414 86%279$114,833$488,600$221 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller

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.