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 Elk Grove, CA 95624

Elk Grove: median income $125,332, home value $633,300, $312/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kent, WA 98042 95%619$127,552$658,500$339 pricier homes ($25K more)
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 93%664$123,898$653,100$375 Very close on everything we compare
Battle Ground, WA 98604 93%513$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Las Vegas, NV 89131 92%367$116,468$531,900$248 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Olympia, WA 98513 90%596$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98001 89%616$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Gilbert, AZ 85233 88%639$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 88%604$122,323$547,500$230 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98092 88%614$122,300$635,900$324 more apartments and townhomes
Marysville, WA 98270 88%667$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Monroe, WA 98272 88%653$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98422 88%615$118,604$663,800$358 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Washougal, WA 98671 88%498$111,545$586,100$296 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Longmont, CO 80504 87%884$113,643$591,700$230 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Sparks, NV 89436 86%122$114,100$588,500$303 cheaper homes ($45K less) · less walkable
Oregon City, OR 97045 86%482$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Sandy, OR 97055 86%483$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller
Poulsbo, WA 98370 86%647$116,756$628,600$314 smaller · older residents
Aurora, CO 80015 85%892$124,702$586,300$218 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Gilbert, AZ 85297 85%646$130,755$600,600$271 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Wellington, FL 33414 84%2,506$112,241$578,500$306 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Gilbert, AZ 85234 84%640$121,102$550,900$291 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Henderson, NV 89002 84%390$105,471$448,900$238 cheaper homes ($184K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98374 84%604$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 5 min longer commute
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 84%604$135,037$626,800$317 6 min longer commute · 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.