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 Magna, UT 84044

Magna: median income $90,346, home value $376,200, $231/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sanger, CA 93657 92%487$78,904$396,200$241 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55434 88%999$90,336$301,100$198 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Nampa, ID 83651 87%305$69,914$338,900$243 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Caldwell, ID 83605 86%313$68,427$346,100$239 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Kingsburg, CA 93631 86%496$79,228$396,800$276 smaller
Cornelius, OR 97113 86%645$96,859$465,400$275 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller
Yakima, WA 98903 86%592$75,343$287,400$269 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Fresno, CA 93725 85%500$72,232$281,800$257 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more renters
Escalon, CA 95320 85%517$82,572$521,900$306 pricier homes ($146K more) · smaller
Yuba City, CA 95993 85%519$93,763$467,400$266 pricier homes ($91K more) · older residents
Selah, WA 98942 85%590$84,646$382,300$239 smaller
Kennewick, WA 99337 85%518$98,848$395,500$225 older residents
Reno, NV 89506 84%418$86,396$410,700$294 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · newer homes
Visalia, CA 93292 84%493$82,872$365,700$238 larger · more renters
Riverbank, CA 95367 84%517$87,487$464,700$292 pricier homes ($89K more) · 6 min longer commute
Sacramento, CA 95828 84%519$81,778$409,700$307 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more renters
Salem, OR 97317 84%620$84,393$402,800$299 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Richmond, VA 23237 83%1,859$79,606$277,100$196 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80911 83%414$87,093$376,600$198 more single-family homes
Jerome, ID 83338 83%187$72,072$269,000$241 cheaper homes ($107K less) · less walkable
Glendale, AZ 85304 83%491$86,927$379,700$241 older residents
Fernley, NV 89408 83%385$89,552$366,500$259 less walkable · newer homes
Imperial, CA 92251 83%576$90,709$368,700$269 less walkable · newer homes
Hanford, CA 93230 83%508$76,023$345,000$237 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more renters
Bakersfield, CA 93313 83%532$91,943$371,900$237 larger · more single-family homes · newer 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.