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 Merced, CA 95348

Merced: median income $64,944, home value $383,600, $248/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85040 94%549$60,727$329,800$251 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Salem, OR 97305 93%544$66,326$372,200$277 Very close on everything we compare
Marietta, GA 30060 91%2,021$67,510$316,000$231 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older homes
Orlando, FL 32810 91%2,326$60,799$281,100$215 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Glendale, AZ 85302 91%536$65,132$364,100$230 older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89110 91%312$61,001$344,300$227 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Bradenton, FL 34208 90%2,302$60,504$318,800$230 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents
Aurora, CO 80011 90%863$74,022$409,100$235 pricier homes ($26K more)
Mesa, AZ 85203 90%559$73,578$439,100$262 pricier homes ($56K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89142 90%314$71,233$345,100$227 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Lawrenceville, GA 30046 89%2,051$67,268$339,800$178 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Norcross, GA 30071 89%2,040$64,515$369,800$203 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32818 89%2,324$63,061$304,600$202 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80916 89%863$67,127$326,300$219 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85027 89%536$76,605$354,800$268 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85029 89%538$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Mesa, AZ 85204 89%561$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Homestead, FL 33033 88%2,479$69,635$399,300$264 larger · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33619 88%2,295$66,134$246,400$222 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Aurora, CO 80017 88%864$80,524$427,100$222 pricier homes ($44K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89108 88%303$59,449$334,100$243 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Monmouth, OR 97361 88%538$69,505$451,100$284 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Newport News, VA 23608 87%2,396$71,126$266,500$198 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Marietta, GA 30008 87%2,019$74,877$307,600$184 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32277 87%2,268$61,554$283,000$178 cheaper homes ($101K 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.