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 Atwater, CA 95301

Atwater: median income $68,349, home value $390,900, $271/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Las Vegas, NV 89142 92%319$71,233$345,100$227 cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Woodburn, OR 97071 92%551$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Orlando, FL 32818 91%2,329$63,061$304,600$202 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Caldwell, ID 83605 91%482$68,427$346,100$239 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85040 91%554$60,727$329,800$251 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Peoria, AZ 85345 91%538$67,380$319,800$242 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89156 90%318$69,767$330,300$219 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Mesa, AZ 85204 89%566$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Henderson, NV 89015 89%325$72,096$407,400$259 older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89110 89%317$61,001$344,300$227 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Richmond, VA 23234 88%2,346$66,619$266,200$218 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85033 88%542$64,144$292,800$236 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Glendale, AZ 85302 88%541$65,132$364,100$230 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Glendale, AZ 85303 88%541$80,650$333,600$240 cheaper homes ($57K less)
North Las Vegas, NV 89032 88%311$76,127$371,400$245 newer homes
Portland, OR 97236 88%571$75,090$436,100$281 pricier homes ($45K more)
Longview, WA 98632 88%620$66,305$379,200$259 older residents · older homes
Bradenton, FL 34208 87%2,307$60,504$318,800$230 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85051 87%544$69,189$326,300$221 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more walkable
Mesa, AZ 85203 87%564$73,578$439,100$262 pricier homes ($48K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89107 87%309$59,571$330,500$239 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older homes
Salem, OR 97305 87%542$66,326$372,200$277 more apartments and townhomes
Spokane, WA 99217 87%738$73,620$377,400$232 smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85019 86%545$68,528$305,200$226 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85037 86%540$84,016$330,200$243 cheaper homes ($61K less)

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.