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 Sparks, NV 89436

Sparks: median income $114,100, home value $588,500, $303/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ridgefield, WA 98642 94%452$120,822$652,400$301 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95829 92%119$105,395$621,100$292 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Battle Ground, WA 98604 92%449$112,448$589,800$299 Very close on everything we compare
Indio, CA 92203 91%448$97,311$553,700$263 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Olympia, WA 98513 91%531$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Washougal, WA 98671 91%433$111,545$586,100$296 smaller
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 90%585$122,323$547,500$230 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Spring Hill, TN 37174 89%1,804$105,181$491,300$236 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Kennewick, WA 99338 89%452$111,042$551,500$275 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Bluffton, SC 29910 88%2,213$98,912$487,000$259 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Boerne, TX 78006 88%1,365$116,156$543,900$229 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Longmont, CO 80504 88%782$113,643$591,700$230 more walkable
Meridian, ID 83646 88%325$102,861$542,500$269 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Mesa, AZ 85207 88%619$108,699$505,000$282 cheaper homes ($84K less) · older residents
Goodyear, AZ 85338 88%590$101,744$436,300$226 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Goodyear, AZ 85395 88%587$105,935$564,800$237 older residents
Bakersfield, CA 93314 88%294$126,250$543,900$245 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Vancouver, WA 98686 88%446$107,801$596,700$294 smaller
Mount Juliet, TN 37122 87%1,815$112,967$486,500$236 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 6 min longer commute
Meridian, ID 83642 87%324$96,909$533,600$280 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Gilbert, AZ 85297 87%624$130,755$600,600$271 Very close on everything we compare
Sherwood, OR 97140 87%427$123,228$653,600$322 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller
Olympia, WA 98516 87%540$98,892$572,500$322 smaller
Canton, GA 30115 86%1,972$113,089$485,500$203 cheaper homes ($103K less) · 5 min longer commute
Belgrade, MT 59714 86%607$96,183$548,600$316 cheaper homes ($40K 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.