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 Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

Rancho Cordova: median income $89,484, home value $491,100, $319/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lacey, WA 98503 95%587$89,002$438,100$293 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Longmont, CO 80501 94%869$80,911$488,800$270 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85032 94%621$78,643$416,800$309 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Beaverton, OR 97078 93%479$90,606$478,800$318 smaller
Portland, OR 97222 93%477$83,119$490,900$316 smaller
Salem, OR 97303 93%450$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Seattle, WA 98198 93%609$86,239$589,500$361 pricier homes ($98K more)
Vancouver, WA 98665 93%494$88,559$476,200$274 smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85023 92%616$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Chandler, AZ 85225 92%642$88,676$430,400$283 cheaper homes ($61K less) · newer homes
Hollywood, FL 33024 91%2,524$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Denver, CO 80233 91%877$88,880$465,400$232 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Chandler, AZ 85224 91%640$94,516$438,700$298 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Mesa, AZ 85203 90%638$73,578$439,100$262 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Newberg, OR 97132 90%471$96,493$522,900$310 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Portland, OR 97230 90%484$75,572$450,700$255 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Kent, WA 98030 90%608$91,761$582,400$319 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98168 90%616$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · older homes
Bremerton, WA 98312 90%624$90,449$473,100$290 smaller
Lakewood, WA 98498 90%594$91,664$506,300$324 smaller
Attleboro, MA 02703 89%2,607$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Arvada, CO 80003 89%871$91,464$534,700$265 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85027 89%614$76,605$354,800$268 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Forest Grove, OR 97116 89%493$92,613$495,800$262 smaller
Portland, OR 97236 89%480$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller

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.