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 Turlock, CA 95380

Turlock: median income $74,534, home value $433,600, $321/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mesa, AZ 85203 92%581$73,578$439,100$262 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85204 91%583$72,216$351,300$274 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Portland, OR 97236 90%559$75,090$436,100$281 older residents
Bremerton, WA 98310 90%705$75,878$440,500$286 smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85029 88%559$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85040 88%571$60,727$329,800$251 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85051 88%560$69,189$326,300$221 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Tacoma, WA 98409 88%676$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Glendale, AZ 85302 87%558$65,132$364,100$230 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Portland, OR 97266 87%559$72,577$445,700$302 older residents
Salem, OR 97305 87%530$66,326$372,200$277 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98444 87%672$65,342$416,400$310 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Marietta, GA 30060 86%2,039$67,510$316,000$231 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Aurora, CO 80010 86%876$63,579$424,600$305 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, CO 80011 86%878$74,022$409,100$235 more apartments and townhomes
Sparks, NV 89431 86%154$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98168 86%695$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($114K more) · older residents
Denver, CO 80219 85%867$68,415$454,600$344 older homes
Woodburn, OR 97071 85%539$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Salem, OR 97303 85%530$84,871$433,900$263 more homeowners
Albany, OR 97322 85%506$69,808$352,900$280 cheaper homes ($81K less) · older residents
Miami, FL 33169 84%2,496$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 84%2,481$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · older residents
Lake Worth, FL 33460 84%2,483$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Salt Lake City, UT 84116 84%529$66,751$381,300$276 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes

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.