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 Bakersfield, CA 93301

Bakersfield: median income $43,561, home value $295,700, $209/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portsmouth, VA 23704 87%2,366$49,583$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55103 87%1,510$48,390$257,500$205 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Norfolk, VA 23504 86%2,368$44,659$269,400$182 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents
Las Vegas, NV 89102 86%220$49,843$376,300$247 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
New Haven, CT 06513 84%2,504$48,500$235,500$210 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 84%2,245$41,736$199,500$166 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33612 83%2,195$47,199$282,000$255 larger · 6 min longer commute
Las Vegas, NV 89106 83%223$42,007$290,000$240 larger · newer homes
East Hartford, CT 06108 82%2,514$56,663$230,500$205 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23523 82%2,368$35,533$224,600$153 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43203 82%1,983$47,572$319,300$169 smaller · older homes
Las Vegas, NV 89104 82%225$52,228$325,500$256 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Reno, NV 89512 82%291$47,807$382,900$286 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Albuquerque, NM 87108 81%702$42,724$243,200$193 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Indian Orchard, MA 01151 80%2,517$55,324$237,200$219 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older homes
Newport News, VA 23605 80%2,357$53,815$194,900$216 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more single-family homes
Casselberry, FL 32730 80%2,242$47,500$318,100$204 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43213 80%1,990$54,704$211,700$163 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75203 80%1,282$46,989$159,900$185 cheaper homes ($136K less) · 6 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75215 80%1,284$45,557$190,100$172 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more single-family homes
Trenton, NJ 08618 79%2,413$50,390$227,000$186 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30337 79%1,961$51,388$320,900$181 pricier homes ($25K more) · less walkable
Houston, TX 77074 79%1,421$47,810$213,000$141 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Houston, TX 77092 79%1,419$58,728$242,900$200 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85015 79%415$54,874$345,000$247 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute

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.