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 92509

Riverside: median income $95,355, home value $540,100, $375/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marysville, WA 98270 85%1,002$108,147$579,900$362 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents · newer homes
Port Orchard, WA 98366 85%973$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98001 84%953$106,791$587,400$342 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98404 84%949$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98445 83%943$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Gresham, OR 97080 82%835$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older residents
Brockton, MA 02302 80%2,556$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · older homes
Marysville, WA 98271 80%1,004$95,654$538,400$380 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Puyallup, WA 98371 80%946$97,242$556,800$323 smaller · older residents
Vancouver, WA 98682 80%849$99,918$462,700$302 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Central Islip, NY 11722 79%2,447$114,049$436,600$400 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Molalla, OR 97038 79%815$89,564$483,500$314 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · newer homes
Kent, WA 98031 79%957$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller
Bremerton, WA 98312 78%977$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Bay Shore, NY 11706 77%2,445$119,603$494,300$426 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older homes
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 77%2,451$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older residents
Hollywood, FL 33023 77%2,282$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($160K less) · older residents · older homes
Denver, CO 80229 76%800$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($123K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80239 76%802$98,148$429,600$238 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84118 76%548$90,562$389,700$251 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Cornelius, OR 97113 76%849$96,859$465,400$275 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Federal Way, WA 98023 76%954$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents
Hollywood, FL 33024 75%2,279$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($131K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33177 75%2,282$82,682$444,200$383 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Aurora, CO 80013 75%801$101,191$474,000$225 cheaper homes ($66K less)

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.