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 95358

Modesto: median income $76,924, home value $431,900, $295/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glendale, AZ 85303 88%571$80,650$333,600$240 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Tacoma, WA 98404 84%666$82,191$413,900$318 more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33170 80%2,508$73,958$474,400$337 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85037 80%571$84,016$330,200$243 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Molalla, OR 97038 80%524$89,564$483,500$314 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Port Orchard, WA 98366 80%690$92,011$475,800$313 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98445 79%660$92,520$444,800$282 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Kissimmee, FL 34743 78%2,369$62,992$321,300$230 cheaper homes ($111K less) · older residents
Fort Lupton, CO 80621 77%889$90,055$463,200$240 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Las Vegas, NV 89142 77%347$71,233$345,100$227 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Saint Helens, OR 97051 77%576$85,869$412,100$269 smaller · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85043 76%575$78,257$343,400$210 cheaper homes ($89K less) · newer homes
Hollywood, FL 33023 75%2,506$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · older residents
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 75%2,506$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
El Mirage, AZ 85335 74%563$78,050$321,900$212 cheaper homes ($110K less) · newer homes
Avondale, AZ 85392 74%568$87,702$418,900$220 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
North Las Vegas, NV 89032 74%339$76,127$371,400$245 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Springfield, TN 37172 73%1,875$72,168$312,600$219 cheaper homes ($119K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Caldwell, ID 83605 73%475$68,427$346,100$239 cheaper homes ($86K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85033 73%572$64,144$292,800$236 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85041 73%582$75,301$347,100$226 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Las Vegas, NV 89156 73%346$69,767$330,300$219 cheaper homes ($102K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Deltona, FL 32725 72%2,358$73,152$288,600$197 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · older residents
North Las Vegas, NV 89031 72%338$87,297$407,300$235 larger · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Woodburn, OR 97071 72%528$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute

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.