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 93308

Bakersfield: median income $62,445, home value $323,000, $240/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Las Vegas, NV 89107 94%220$59,571$330,500$239 Very close on everything we compare
Bradenton, FL 34208 91%2,209$60,504$318,800$230 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89108 91%221$59,449$334,100$243 Very close on everything we compare
Medford, OR 97501 91%517$63,977$353,800$260 pricier homes ($31K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Longview, WA 98632 91%769$66,305$379,200$259 pricier homes ($56K more) · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23234 90%2,296$66,619$266,200$218 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Albany, OR 97322 90%670$69,808$352,900$280 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32818 89%2,237$63,061$304,600$202 5 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85029 89%414$64,556$345,600$249 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85040 89%423$60,727$329,800$251 smaller · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85051 89%414$69,189$326,300$221 more walkable
Glendale, AZ 85302 89%411$65,132$364,100$230 pricier homes ($41K more) · 6 min longer commute
Jacksonville, FL 32277 88%2,188$61,554$283,000$178 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Weatherford, TX 76086 88%1,228$60,578$258,100$199 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Yakima, WA 98901 88%776$57,392$279,600$217 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Gastonia, NC 28054 87%2,123$61,035$245,100$174 cheaper homes ($78K less) · less walkable
Clearwater, FL 33755 87%2,180$62,886$328,700$264 smaller
Madison, TN 37115 87%1,804$54,566$307,500$220 more apartments and townhomes
Mesa, AZ 85204 87%436$72,216$351,300$274 pricier homes ($28K more)
Woodburn, OR 97071 87%701$70,938$340,800$275 smaller · more homeowners
Eugene, OR 97402 87%635$57,658$357,700$289 pricier homes ($35K more)
Springfield, OR 97477 87%633$65,662$373,000$279 pricier homes ($50K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Kennewick, WA 99336 87%745$62,527$324,400$240 more apartments and townhomes
Winchester, VA 22601 86%2,242$64,258$339,800$209 smaller
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 86%1,902$70,711$321,300$217 smaller

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.