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 93314

Bakersfield: median income $126,250, home value $543,900, $245/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 99%406$122,323$547,500$230 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85212 96%452$125,902$584,000$259 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Gilbert, AZ 85297 93%450$130,755$600,600$271 pricier homes ($57K more)
Syracuse, UT 84075 92%552$133,286$573,600$224 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents
West Jordan, UT 84081 92%529$119,970$546,400$216 Very close on everything we compare
West Richland, WA 99353 92%755$121,845$450,500$271 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Surprise, AZ 85388 91%402$112,164$459,900$221 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89178 91%222$108,806$470,600$247 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Aurora, CO 80018 90%846$136,895$588,200$225 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Johnstown, CO 80534 90%848$129,024$553,300$221 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Ogden, UT 84414 90%565$114,833$488,600$221 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Queen Creek, AZ 85142 90%455$129,367$593,500$262 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Las Vegas, NV 89131 90%229$116,468$531,900$248 older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89141 90%226$122,339$549,100$241 Very close on everything we compare
Kennewick, WA 99338 90%744$111,042$551,500$275 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Clermont, FL 34715 89%2,229$105,262$437,800$220 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Laveen, AZ 85339 89%423$110,602$441,600$229 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Surprise, AZ 85379 89%406$110,616$448,200$210 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Olympia, WA 98513 89%823$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Battle Ground, WA 98604 89%740$112,448$589,800$299 pricier homes ($46K more)
Ridgefield, WA 98642 89%742$120,822$652,400$301 pricier homes ($109K more) · older residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23456 88%2,391$130,533$474,700$251 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older residents
Canton, GA 30115 88%1,963$113,089$485,500$203 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · older residents
Midlothian, TX 76065 88%1,284$127,756$425,100$189 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Windsor, CO 80550 88%852$126,132$582,000$223 pricier homes ($38K more)

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.