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 89441

Sparks: median income $131,616, home value $642,900, $317/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New River, AZ 85087 93%576$138,566$552,300$274 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Buckley, WA 98321 90%531$127,411$571,200$296 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Loxahatchee, FL 33470 88%2,424$122,163$584,500$301 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Naples, FL 34117 87%2,382$110,614$461,600$327 cheaper homes ($181K less) · younger residents
West Palm Beach, FL 33412 86%2,423$130,225$643,800$379 older residents
Elbert, CO 80106 86%808$136,852$748,800$295 pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller · older residents
Madera, CA 93636 86%187$133,274$542,100$268 cheaper homes ($101K less) · younger residents · older homes
Gig Harbor, WA 98329 86%554$110,316$518,700$356 cheaper homes ($124K less) · older homes
Port Orchard, WA 98367 85%560$115,482$565,100$294 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Chester, NH 03036 84%2,490$142,212$552,300$298 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · older homes
Waddell, AZ 85355 84%582$123,055$494,000$238 cheaper homes ($149K less) · younger residents
Orting, WA 98360 84%528$125,842$505,200$286 cheaper homes ($138K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Seabeck, WA 98380 84%571$125,229$578,900$341 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · older homes
Manorville, NY 11949 83%2,444$138,864$601,600$339 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Powhatan, VA 23139 83%2,240$110,349$405,000$249 cheaper homes ($238K less) · larger
Spring Branch, TX 78070 83%1,379$115,175$516,600$221 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Rescue, CA 95672 83%95$146,769$767,400$331 pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller · older homes
Columbus, NJ 08022 82%2,361$117,679$429,800$256 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller
Chesterfield, VA 23838 82%2,259$134,651$465,500$206 cheaper homes ($177K less)
Foristell, MO 63348 82%1,534$115,661$386,200$231 cheaper homes ($257K less)
Buckeye, AZ 85396 82%586$114,056$482,900$237 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger
Colbert, WA 99005 82%577$125,530$561,100$216 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026 82%572$100,599$540,400$245 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Lakeville, MA 02347 81%2,521$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older homes
Brandywine, MD 20613 81%2,275$151,422$530,000$222 cheaper homes ($113K less) · 7 min longer commute

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.