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 Hemet, CA 92544

Hemet: median income $73,596, home value $404,500, $278/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tacoma, WA 98445 89%968$92,520$444,800$282 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Middletown, NY 10940 87%2,360$87,080$336,500$257 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Lebanon, OR 97355 87%811$68,595$371,700$286 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older residents
Capitol Heights, MD 20743 86%2,239$76,466$341,000$250 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Denver, CO 80229 85%786$84,203$417,500$264 7 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98404 85%974$82,191$413,900$318 more walkable
Las Vegas, NV 89156 84%201$69,767$330,300$219 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Port Orchard, WA 98366 84%998$92,011$475,800$313 pricier homes ($71K more)
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 83%2,251$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more walkable
Peoria, AZ 85345 83%270$67,380$319,800$242 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33170 82%2,249$73,958$474,400$337 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller · newer homes
Portland, OR 97236 82%864$75,090$436,100$281 pricier homes ($32K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Shelton, WA 98584 82%985$78,610$393,000$299 older residents
Hollywood, FL 33023 81%2,251$74,709$380,000$342 more walkable · older homes
Saint Cloud, FL 34769 81%2,134$67,148$313,300$215 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Rifle, CO 81650 81%646$81,025$418,200$310 smaller · newer homes
Waianae, HI 96792 81%2,645$87,509$569,400$441 pricier homes ($165K more) · 6 min longer commute
Deland, FL 32720 80%2,114$68,830$322,600$197 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Kissimmee, FL 34744 80%2,128$74,537$356,000$212 cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80233 80%787$88,880$465,400$232 pricier homes ($61K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Woodburn, OR 97071 80%849$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Front Royal, VA 22630 79%2,170$84,631$358,600$221 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents
Marietta, GA 30008 79%1,848$74,877$307,600$184 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Orlando, FL 32818 79%2,115$63,061$304,600$202 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Hollywood, FL 33024 79%2,248$80,061$409,400$349 6 min shorter commute · more walkable

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.