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 Stockton, CA 95209

Stockton: median income $108,675, home value $494,900, $260/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Aurora, CO 80013 94%897$101,191$474,000$225 larger
Gresham, OR 97080 92%517$96,305$502,000$269 Very close on everything we compare
Commerce City, CO 80022 91%891$104,396$485,100$221 newer homes
Auburn, WA 98001 90%642$106,791$587,400$342 pricier homes ($93K more)
Brighton, CO 80601 89%898$105,417$497,700$214 newer homes
Port Orchard, WA 98366 89%660$92,011$475,800$313 Very close on everything we compare
Marysville, WA 98270 87%694$108,147$579,900$362 pricier homes ($85K more)
Kent, WA 98031 86%647$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($117K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Tooele, UT 84074 85%513$108,341$422,600$188 cheaper homes ($72K less) · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84129 85%532$95,844$434,000$242 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Sandy, OR 97055 85%509$112,323$493,900$274 smaller · less walkable
Cornelius, OR 97113 85%525$96,859$465,400$275 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Federal Way, WA 98023 85%643$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($95K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Olympia, WA 98513 85%623$113,053$470,700$296 less walkable
Vancouver, WA 98682 85%530$99,918$462,700$302 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Gilbert, AZ 85233 84%625$111,160$513,000$290 Very close on everything we compare
Henderson, NV 89002 84%379$105,471$448,900$238 cheaper homes ($46K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Las Vegas, NV 89129 84%356$89,798$448,800$246 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents · newer homes
Oregon City, OR 97045 84%508$103,573$587,700$313 pricier homes ($93K more) · less walkable
Bremerton, WA 98311 84%666$108,757$471,800$299 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98371 84%635$97,242$556,800$323 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 83%2,645$102,079$484,800$309 smaller · less walkable
Arvada, CO 80003 83%882$91,464$534,700$265 pricier homes ($40K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Roy, UT 84067 83%540$91,115$382,600$216 cheaper homes ($112K less) · 6 min shorter commute
West Jordan, UT 84088 83%531$105,142$482,500$241 8 min shorter commute · 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.