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 Modesto, CA 95355

Modesto: median income $86,849, home value $469,000, $286/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80233 93%875$88,880$465,400$232 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, OR 97303 93%517$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Hollywood, FL 33024 92%2,498$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Glendale, AZ 85306 91%566$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85023 90%569$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Beaverton, OR 97078 90%546$90,606$478,800$318 smaller
Portland, OR 97236 90%546$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80229 89%875$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Gresham, OR 97080 89%545$96,305$502,000$269 pricier homes ($33K more)
Portland, OR 97230 89%550$75,572$450,700$255 6 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98404 89%663$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · older homes
Arvada, CO 80003 88%868$91,464$534,700$265 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85053 88%568$70,011$367,000$247 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Port Orchard, WA 98366 88%687$92,011$475,800$313 smaller · less walkable
Denver, CO 80239 87%880$98,148$429,600$238 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
Troutdale, OR 97060 87%548$88,279$443,600$286 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Newberg, OR 97132 87%538$96,493$522,900$310 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Portland, OR 97266 87%546$72,577$445,700$302 smaller
Federal Way, WA 98023 87%670$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($121K more)
Lacey, WA 98503 87%653$89,002$438,100$293 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Vancouver, WA 98662 87%560$94,303$453,200$282 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Vancouver, WA 98665 87%561$88,559$476,200$274 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hollywood, FL 33023 86%2,501$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($89K less) · older homes
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 86%2,487$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80013 86%882$101,191$474,000$225 more homeowners

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.