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 92408

San Bernardino: median income $68,333, home value $426,400, $392/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tacoma, WA 98409 87%946$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Sparks, NV 89431 86%402$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98444 84%942$65,342$416,400$310 larger · 8 min longer commute
Aurora, CO 80010 83%788$63,579$424,600$305 larger · older homes
Lake Worth, FL 33460 82%2,265$62,090$405,400$357 larger · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85006 82%303$58,248$408,100$311 larger · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85007 82%301$63,616$480,600$340 pricier homes ($54K more) · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85040 82%305$60,727$329,800$251 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Bremerton, WA 98310 82%975$75,878$440,500$286 larger · more homeowners
Salem, OR 97305 81%811$66,326$372,200$277 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84116 80%548$66,751$381,300$276 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · more homeowners
Lakewood, WA 98499 80%944$67,292$408,500$327 larger · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Mesa, AZ 85210 79%316$61,957$337,800$260 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Reno, NV 89503 79%403$66,743$467,200$298 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Gresham, OR 97030 79%835$69,239$435,700$254 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97233 79%837$60,198$414,600$267 larger · older residents
West Palm Beach, FL 33403 78%2,259$70,646$368,800$272 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75220 78%1,177$69,843$500,200$388 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Albany, OR 97322 78%791$69,808$352,900$280 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · older residents
Monmouth, OR 97361 78%808$69,505$451,100$284 more homeowners
Las Vegas, NV 89146 77%183$62,899$452,000$242 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Fairview, OR 97024 77%838$69,679$414,100$284 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Salem, OR 97301 77%810$60,422$341,000$260 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Auburn, WA 98002 77%949$78,684$421,300$322 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Vancouver, WA 98661 77%847$76,913$451,500$289 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger

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.