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 Porterville, CA 93257

Porterville: median income $59,704, home value $288,200, $233/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richmond, VA 23234 92%2,284$66,619$266,200$218 smaller
Grand Prairie, TX 75051 90%1,274$58,245$227,400$190 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Sunnyside, WA 98944 87%710$64,276$260,000$225 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32818 86%2,238$63,061$304,600$202 older residents
Petersburg, VA 23803 85%2,286$57,813$230,400$183 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · older residents
Shelbyville, TN 37160 85%1,818$64,800$277,700$206 smaller · older residents
Yakima, WA 98901 85%732$57,392$279,600$217 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Bridgeton, NJ 08302 84%2,385$65,516$202,200$181 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller · older homes
Gastonia, NC 28054 84%2,115$61,035$245,100$174 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · older residents
Jacksonville, NC 28540 84%2,325$65,625$223,800$171 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Winter Haven, FL 33880 83%2,239$56,390$228,300$169 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older residents
Springdale, AR 72764 83%1,391$65,898$249,800$205 cheaper homes ($38K less) · newer homes
Weatherford, TX 76086 83%1,230$60,578$258,100$199 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older residents
Greeley, CO 80631 83%833$54,591$336,600$209 pricier homes ($48K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Grandview, WA 98930 83%705$64,583$303,500$251 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Knoxville, TN 37921 82%1,947$60,013$226,300$220 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76114 82%1,251$62,073$222,600$195 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Haltom City, TX 76117 82%1,258$51,670$211,700$186 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · older residents
Vineland, NJ 08360 81%2,392$65,359$221,900$198 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · older residents
Petersburg, VA 23805 81%2,292$60,807$233,400$173 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · older residents
Sanford, NC 27330 81%2,219$61,300$242,700$160 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older residents
Greenville, SC 29611 81%2,048$51,565$195,700$181 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Rock Hill, SC 29730 81%2,127$68,543$259,700$196 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents · newer homes
Jacksonville, FL 32210 81%2,180$61,050$225,600$164 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents · more walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32244 81%2,180$62,204$241,700$167 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 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.