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 Riverside, CA 92505

Riverside: median income $84,906, home value $570,200, $400/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98198 89%964$86,239$589,500$361 5 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98030 88%962$91,761$582,400$319 Very close on everything we compare
Waianae, HI 96792 86%2,615$87,509$569,400$441 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Hollywood, FL 33024 83%2,281$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($161K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97236 82%842$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($134K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98444 81%950$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Denver, CO 80229 80%805$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($153K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Hyattsville, MD 20784 79%2,264$86,509$369,900$275 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller · older homes
Miami, FL 33169 79%2,285$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Aurora, CO 80011 79%807$74,022$409,100$235 cheaper homes ($161K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80233 79%806$88,880$465,400$232 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Federal Way, WA 98003 79%959$75,319$476,600$314 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33157 78%2,287$81,589$547,300$412 older residents · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98168 78%970$88,083$548,000$369 smaller · 10 min shorter commute · older homes
Tacoma, WA 98409 78%954$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Riverdale, MD 20737 77%2,263$86,951$390,500$286 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · older homes
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 77%2,284$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($198K less) · older residents
Miami, FL 33189 77%2,289$69,420$461,900$361 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · older residents
Auburn, WA 98002 77%957$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($149K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Federal Way, WA 98023 77%959$104,893$589,900$320 older residents · more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98404 77%953$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($156K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Hempstead, NY 11550 76%2,430$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($105K less) · older residents · older homes
Aurora, CO 80017 76%807$80,524$427,100$222 cheaper homes ($143K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98032 76%963$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Puyallup, WA 98373 76%947$103,796$565,700$280 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · newer 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.