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.

Reset

Towns most like Modesto, CA 95356

Modesto: median income $96,886, home value $532,600, $278/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arvada, CO 80003 96%871$91,464$534,700$265 Very close on everything we compare
Newberg, OR 97132 96%535$96,493$522,900$310 Very close on everything we compare
Beaverton, OR 97078 95%543$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Gresham, OR 97080 95%542$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Federal Way, WA 98023 95%667$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Kent, WA 98031 95%672$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($79K more)
Forest Grove, OR 97116 93%557$92,613$495,800$262 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Port Orchard, WA 98366 93%685$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Puyallup, WA 98371 93%660$97,242$556,800$323 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, CO 80013 92%885$101,191$474,000$225 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80233 92%878$88,880$465,400$232 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Denver, CO 80232 91%869$96,217$521,600$251 older homes
Glendale, AZ 85306 91%571$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Troutdale, OR 97060 91%545$88,279$443,600$286 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Everett, WA 98203 91%710$107,376$608,600$359 pricier homes ($76K more)
Bremerton, WA 98312 91%688$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($60K less) · less walkable
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 90%2,495$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($44K more)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 90%2,501$93,603$495,000$298 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Peoria, AZ 85381 90%569$96,746$447,900$236 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Cornelius, OR 97113 90%551$96,859$465,400$275 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Salem, OR 97303 90%514$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Salem, OR 97304 90%513$98,031$499,300$260 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Vancouver, WA 98662 90%558$94,303$453,200$282 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lanham, MD 20706 89%2,372$104,523$429,000$242 cheaper homes ($104K less) · older homes
Westminster, CO 80031 89%873$107,422$535,300$249 Very close on everything we compare

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.