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 Fairfield, CA 94534

Fairfield: median income $140,198, home value $744,500, $350/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kent, WA 98042 94%631$127,552$658,500$339 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Tacoma, WA 98422 93%626$118,604$663,800$358 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Snohomish, WA 98290 92%667$132,973$784,200$407 pricier homes ($40K more)
Hollywood, FL 33029 91%2,559$146,237$619,900$331 cheaper homes ($125K less) · more homeowners
Poulsbo, WA 98370 91%657$116,756$628,600$314 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 90%675$123,898$653,100$375 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents
Maple Valley, WA 98038 89%632$152,261$776,900$377 pricier homes ($32K more) · 5 min longer commute
Monroe, WA 98272 89%664$122,352$713,300$396 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Gig Harbor, WA 98335 89%626$128,592$791,100$401 pricier homes ($47K more)
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 88%2,558$131,216$745,700$351 smaller
Howell, NJ 07731 87%2,538$134,056$494,600$353 cheaper homes ($250K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331 87%2,559$142,636$712,000$413 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Gig Harbor, WA 98332 87%630$135,330$748,200$399 smaller · older residents
Camas, WA 98607 87%509$128,318$702,100$328 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Parker, CO 80138 86%939$145,013$723,600$230 Very close on everything we compare
Battle Ground, WA 98604 86%522$112,448$589,800$299 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($155K less)
Edgewater, MD 21037 85%2,437$145,787$560,300$317 cheaper homes ($184K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85086 85%637$121,676$598,900$267 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Sherwood, OR 97140 85%493$123,228$653,600$322 cheaper homes ($91K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Renton, WA 98059 85%640$138,654$872,000$451 pricier homes ($128K more)
Auburn, WA 98092 85%625$122,300$635,900$324 cheaper homes ($109K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Snohomish, WA 98296 85%664$177,583$927,700$406 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($183K more)
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 85%615$135,037$626,800$317 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 5 min longer commute
Pelham, NH 03076 84%2,649$135,956$552,600$312 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller
Wellington, FL 33414 84%2,546$112,241$578,500$306 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($166K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.