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 San Bernardino, CA 92407

San Bernardino: median income $94,032, home value $514,800, $350/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Port Orchard, WA 98366 86%959$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80233 85%790$88,880$465,400$232 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Denver, CO 80239 85%792$98,148$429,600$238 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Molalla, OR 97038 85%802$89,564$483,500$314 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98445 85%930$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · older residents
Marysville, WA 98270 84%988$108,147$579,900$362 pricier homes ($65K more) · older residents
Denver, CO 80229 83%790$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($97K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Bremerton, WA 98312 83%963$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older residents
Avondale, AZ 85392 82%296$87,702$418,900$220 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · newer homes
Kent, WA 98031 82%944$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller · older residents
Vancouver, WA 98682 82%836$99,918$462,700$302 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Glendale, AZ 85303 81%301$80,650$333,600$240 cheaper homes ($181K less) · smaller
Brighton, CO 80601 80%798$105,417$497,700$214 smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85037 80%299$84,016$330,200$243 cheaper homes ($185K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Gresham, OR 97080 80%822$96,305$502,000$269 older residents · more homeowners
Forest Grove, OR 97116 80%844$92,613$495,800$262 smaller
Auburn, WA 98001 80%939$106,791$587,400$342 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · older residents
Federal Way, WA 98023 80%941$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents
Marysville, WA 98271 80%991$95,654$538,400$380 smaller · older residents
Puyallup, WA 98373 80%928$103,796$565,700$280 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98404 80%935$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · older homes
Puyallup, WA 98371 79%933$97,242$556,800$323 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older residents
Hollywood, FL 33024 78%2,277$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($105K less) · older residents · older homes
Avondale, AZ 85323 78%295$83,120$370,200$219 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · newer homes
Puyallup, WA 98374 78%928$112,662$535,300$284 older residents

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.