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 Ontario, CA 91762

Ontario: median income $83,850, home value $606,000, $390/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98198 94%952$86,239$589,500$361 smaller
Hollywood, FL 33024 91%2,292$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Kent, WA 98030 89%951$91,761$582,400$319 smaller
Seattle, WA 98168 89%959$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97236 88%830$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 86%2,294$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($183K less) · older residents
Denver, CO 80229 86%809$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($189K less)
Denver, CO 80233 85%809$88,880$465,400$232 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Miami, FL 33157 84%2,298$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents
Lakewood, WA 98498 84%940$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · older residents
Mesa, AZ 85203 83%339$73,578$439,100$262 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Federal Way, WA 98023 83%948$104,893$589,900$320 Very close on everything we compare
Bremerton, WA 98312 83%970$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Brockton, MA 02302 82%2,565$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($181K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Beaverton, OR 97078 82%832$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
Forest Grove, OR 97116 82%849$92,613$495,800$262 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97266 82%830$72,577$445,700$302 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller
Salem, OR 97303 82%807$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98031 82%951$105,965$611,600$349 smaller
Attleboro, MA 02703 81%2,551$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($157K less) · older residents
Miami, FL 33169 81%2,296$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($203K less)
Aurora, CO 80011 81%810$74,022$409,100$235 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 81%979$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($154K more) · smaller · older residents
Bremerton, WA 98310 81%971$75,878$440,500$286 cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98404 81%942$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller · more single-family 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.