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 Salinas, CA 93905

Salinas: median income $80,126, home value $616,100, $479/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spring Valley, NY 10977 75%2,544$74,451$649,700$403 pricier homes ($34K more) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Tacoma, WA 98444 75%724$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98409 74%728$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($222K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80010 73%932$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller · older homes
Auburn, WA 98002 73%735$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($195K less) · smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75220 72%1,425$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Wahiawa, HI 96786 72%2,417$85,554$807,900$511 pricier homes ($192K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98168 71%748$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · older residents
Sparks, NV 89431 70%222$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($251K less) · smaller · older residents
Kent, WA 98030 70%740$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · older residents
Salem, OR 97305 69%578$66,326$372,200$277 cheaper homes ($244K less)
Lake Worth, FL 33460 68%2,520$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller · older residents
Aurora, CO 80011 68%935$74,022$409,100$235 cheaper homes ($207K less)
Seattle, WA 98198 68%741$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Lakewood, WA 98499 68%726$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($208K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33169 66%2,533$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($213K less) · older residents
Mesa, AZ 85204 66%600$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($265K less) · more homeowners
Kent, WA 98032 66%740$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Gresham, OR 97030 65%612$69,239$435,700$254 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · older residents
Portland, OR 97236 65%610$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · older residents
Bremerton, WA 98310 65%756$75,878$440,500$286 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · older residents
Vancouver, WA 98661 65%621$76,913$451,500$289 cheaper homes ($165K less) · older residents
West Valley City, UT 84119 64%588$71,378$382,600$248 cheaper homes ($234K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85040 64%587$60,727$329,800$251 cheaper homes ($286K less) · smaller
Mesa, AZ 85203 64%598$73,578$439,100$262 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller · more homeowners

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.