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 Lodi, CA 95240

Lodi: median income $82,137, home value $472,100, $339/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98168 91%649$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($76K more)
Portland, OR 97236 88%513$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Mesa, AZ 85203 87%620$73,578$439,100$262 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Bremerton, WA 98310 87%659$75,878$440,500$286 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · more walkable
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 86%714$76,717$492,300$331 smaller · newer homes
Bremerton, WA 98312 86%657$90,449$473,100$290 more homeowners
Glen Burnie, MD 21061 85%2,385$87,751$339,100$236 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Mesa, AZ 85204 85%623$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($121K less) · more walkable
Dover, NJ 07801 84%2,467$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 84%2,520$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Longview, WA 98632 84%562$66,305$379,200$259 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents
Hollywood, FL 33024 83%2,519$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Naples, FL 34116 83%2,434$73,958$430,200$311 cheaper homes ($42K less) · newer homes
Aurora, CO 80011 83%889$74,022$409,100$235 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Denver, CO 80229 83%884$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Ogden, UT 84401 83%538$80,758$439,900$223 cheaper homes ($32K less) · newer homes
Albany, OR 97322 83%459$69,808$352,900$280 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Seattle, WA 98198 83%643$86,239$589,500$361 pricier homes ($117K more) · 5 min longer commute
Oak Harbor, WA 98277 83%708$83,253$499,600$317 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Taunton, MA 02780 82%2,629$74,471$413,900$326 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more apartments and townhomes
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 82%2,507$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80233 82%883$88,880$465,400$232 newer homes
Salem, OR 97303 82%483$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more homeowners · more walkable
Tacoma, WA 98409 82%631$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · more walkable
Wenatchee, WA 98801 82%644$81,488$461,200$292 7 min shorter commute

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.