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 Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Fair Oaks: median income $115,803, home value $651,400, $340/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arvada, CO 80004 93%866$103,659$616,700$268 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Renton, WA 98058 93%609$115,201$676,000$385 younger residents
Freehold, NJ 07728 90%2,479$114,072$505,400$342 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 90%637$133,638$821,700$450 pricier homes ($170K more)
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 89%2,441$128,295$560,200$257 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Poulsbo, WA 98370 89%632$116,756$628,600$314 newer homes
Stoughton, MA 02072 88%2,612$104,794$523,800$335 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller
Cumberland, RI 02864 88%2,599$117,522$431,000$281 cheaper homes ($220K less)
Everett, WA 98203 88%643$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Dracut, MA 01826 87%2,594$114,196$473,800$353 cheaper homes ($178K less)
Springfield, VA 22150 87%2,352$123,114$635,900$335 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Downers Grove, IL 60516 87%1,756$115,480$441,100$261 cheaper homes ($210K less) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 87%522$115,515$659,900$294 7 min shorter commute
Oregon City, OR 97045 87%467$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Tewksbury, MA 01876 86%2,600$130,204$577,000$382 cheaper homes ($74K less) · more homeowners
Danvers, MA 01923 86%2,614$125,395$644,200$428 smaller · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
North Attleboro, MA 02760 86%2,603$112,027$478,700$330 cheaper homes ($173K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
North Kingstown, RI 02852 86%2,602$118,643$504,900$332 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller
Clark, NJ 07066 86%2,472$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older homes
Belmar, NJ 07719 86%2,491$119,828$700,900$488 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 86%2,532$120,573$496,600$337 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller
Langhorne, PA 19047 86%2,448$109,530$467,000$285 cheaper homes ($184K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 86%2,522$93,603$495,000$298 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328 86%2,521$126,380$578,300$357 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · newer homes
Kent, WA 98031 86%605$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger 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.