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 Wilmington, CA 90744

Wilmington: median income $60,847, home value $631,500, $556/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33161 78%2,333$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($190K less)
Aurora, CO 80010 76%847$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($207K less)
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 75%2,441$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($261K less)
Lake Worth, FL 33460 75%2,321$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($226K less)
Plainfield, NJ 07060 73%2,433$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($238K less)
Lakewood, WA 98499 73%951$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($223K less) · smaller · newer homes
Lawrence, MA 01843 72%2,594$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($202K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33127 72%2,333$41,230$408,800$464 cheaper homes ($223K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33150 72%2,332$40,873$453,400$404 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75220 72%1,235$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($131K less) · newer homes
Everett, WA 98201 72%1,002$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33162 69%2,332$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($228K less) · more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98444 69%949$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($215K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Brockton, MA 02301 68%2,602$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($182K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 68%2,443$65,511$459,200$321 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33147 68%2,331$50,704$381,000$374 cheaper homes ($251K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Sparks, NV 89431 68%407$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($266K less) · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85006 67%358$58,248$408,100$311 cheaper homes ($223K less) · smaller
Lynn, MA 01902 66%2,606$67,046$478,000$348 cheaper homes ($154K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Fairview, NJ 07022 66%2,454$63,606$511,400$389 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · older residents
Paterson, NJ 07502 66%2,444$76,790$375,300$381 cheaper homes ($256K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 66%2,327$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($254K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Portland, OR 97233 66%841$60,198$414,600$267 cheaper homes ($217K less) · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98409 66%953$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($237K less) · smaller · newer homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07202 65%2,443$71,250$432,100$318 cheaper homes ($199K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.