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 Waterford, CA 95386

Waterford: median income $73,196, home value $416,500, $308/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Molalla, OR 97038 85%525$89,564$483,500$314 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Glendale, AZ 85303 82%557$80,650$333,600$240 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Youngtown, AZ 85363 81%550$68,321$320,000$214 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · older residents
Spokane, WA 99217 81%719$73,620$377,400$232 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Homedale, ID 83628 80%457$68,854$323,100$277 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Saint Helens, OR 97051 80%577$85,869$412,100$269 larger · older residents
Miami, FL 33170 79%2,491$73,958$474,400$337 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89156 79%330$69,767$330,300$219 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Mount Angel, OR 97362 79%524$66,250$462,400$287 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Madras, OR 97741 79%483$70,983$334,800$247 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Las Vegas, NV 89142 78%331$71,233$345,100$227 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Sheridan, OR 97378 78%532$79,746$372,600$277 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents
Stayton, OR 97383 78%505$78,853$423,600$288 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Grandview, WA 98930 78%596$64,583$303,500$251 cheaper homes ($113K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Caldwell, ID 83605 77%466$68,427$346,100$239 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Woodburn, OR 97071 77%529$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · older residents
Kelso, WA 98626 77%597$75,528$368,900$269 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · older residents
Quarryville, PA 17566 76%2,382$78,108$306,200$233 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Georgetown, DE 19947 76%2,438$71,229$322,300$196 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denton, MD 21629 76%2,412$73,956$334,200$188 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents
Springfield, TN 37172 76%1,858$72,168$312,600$219 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Fort Lupton, CO 80621 76%872$90,055$463,200$240 pricier homes ($47K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Rifle, CO 81650 76%710$81,025$418,200$310 more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85037 76%556$84,016$330,200$243 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Burlington, WA 98233 76%752$87,614$502,100$348 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · older residents

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.