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 Madera, CA 93637

Madera: median income $71,724, home value $384,200, $248/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Caldwell, ID 83605 95%497$68,427$346,100$239 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85037 91%502$84,016$330,200$243 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 5 min longer commute
North Las Vegas, NV 89032 91%277$76,127$371,400$245 6 min longer commute
Nampa, ID 83651 89%495$69,914$338,900$243 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
Las Vegas, NV 89142 89%285$71,233$345,100$227 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 8 min longer commute
Henderson, NV 89015 87%291$72,096$407,400$259 older residents
Avondale, AZ 85323 86%499$83,120$370,200$219 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Spokane, WA 99217 86%760$73,620$377,400$232 smaller · older residents
Mesa, AZ 85204 85%528$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Glendale, AZ 85303 85%503$80,650$333,600$240 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 10 min longer commute
Peoria, AZ 85345 85%500$67,380$319,800$242 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 6 min longer commute
Hermiston, OR 97838 85%617$69,599$306,500$236 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Ogden, UT 84404 84%527$85,057$396,800$228 larger · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85040 84%516$60,727$329,800$251 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 5 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85041 84%513$75,301$347,100$226 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Woodburn, OR 97071 84%585$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Pasco, WA 99301 84%645$87,951$385,500$263 larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80239 83%848$98,148$429,600$238 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($45K more)
Ogden, UT 84401 83%526$80,758$439,900$223 pricier homes ($56K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Orlando, FL 32818 82%2,299$63,061$304,600$202 cheaper homes ($80K less) · 7 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75212 82%1,343$59,750$241,700$216 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80916 82%846$67,127$326,300$219 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Nampa, ID 83687 82%496$76,682$403,600$250 more homeowners · newer homes
Mesa, AZ 85203 82%526$73,578$439,100$262 pricier homes ($55K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Las Vegas, NV 89107 82%275$59,571$330,500$239 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older 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.