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 Fontana, CA 92335

Fontana: median income $77,949, home value $462,400, $407/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tacoma, WA 98444 85%940$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80011 82%799$74,022$409,100$235 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33169 80%2,284$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98002 80%947$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Mesa, AZ 85204 79%329$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($111K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97236 79%832$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
Salem, OR 97305 79%808$66,326$372,200$277 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98409 79%944$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33024 78%2,280$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Aurora, CO 80010 78%797$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80229 78%798$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Las Vegas, NV 89110 76%198$61,001$344,300$227 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 75%2,283$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · older residents
Sparks, NV 89431 75%399$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98030 75%952$91,761$582,400$319 pricier homes ($120K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98198 75%954$86,239$589,500$361 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85040 74%315$60,727$329,800$251 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Glendale, AZ 85302 74%305$65,132$364,100$230 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98168 74%960$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller · older residents
Spring Valley, NY 10977 73%2,400$74,451$649,700$403 pricier homes ($187K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 73%2,282$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older residents
Lake Worth, FL 33460 73%2,275$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80017 73%799$80,524$427,100$222 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85029 73%308$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller
Mesa, AZ 85203 73%328$73,578$439,100$262 smaller · 6 min shorter 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.