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 95357

Modesto: median income $95,707, home value $445,400, $287/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cornelius, OR 97113 86%554$96,859$465,400$275 more apartments and townhomes
Las Vegas, NV 89130 84%328$85,278$430,300$246 larger · older residents
Molalla, OR 97038 84%522$89,564$483,500$314 pricier homes ($38K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Helens, OR 97051 82%575$85,869$412,100$269 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Salt Lake City, UT 84118 81%518$90,562$389,700$251 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · more homeowners
West Valley City, UT 84128 81%519$110,726$438,300$242 larger · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84129 81%520$95,844$434,000$242 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Glendale, AZ 85304 81%564$86,927$379,700$241 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older residents
North Las Vegas, NV 89031 81%330$87,297$407,300$235 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
North Las Vegas, NV 89081 81%333$91,733$420,500$211 larger · newer homes
Scappoose, OR 97056 81%569$94,209$469,800$268 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Magna, UT 84044 80%515$90,346$376,200$231 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Roy, UT 84067 80%530$91,115$382,600$216 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · more homeowners
Glendale, AZ 85303 79%564$80,650$333,600$240 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Henderson, NV 89002 79%347$105,471$448,900$238 larger
Commerce City, CO 80022 78%872$104,396$485,100$221 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Grantsville, UT 84029 78%494$101,365$489,600$180 pricier homes ($44K more) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
West Jordan, UT 84084 78%519$96,056$459,400$253 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Avondale, AZ 85392 78%562$87,702$418,900$220 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Gresham, OR 97080 78%546$96,305$502,000$269 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Carlton, OR 97111 78%539$108,453$520,400$314 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller · less walkable
Auburn, WA 98001 78%670$106,791$587,400$342 pricier homes ($142K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Port Orchard, WA 98366 78%688$92,011$475,800$313 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Sandy, OR 97055 77%537$112,323$493,900$274 pricier homes ($49K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Nampa, ID 83686 76%465$86,518$430,200$259 larger · less walkable

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.