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 95757

Elk Grove: median income $138,198, home value $677,800, $306/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gilbert, AZ 85297 90%649$130,755$600,600$271 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Las Vegas, NV 89131 86%370$116,468$531,900$248 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Gilbert, AZ 85296 85%645$118,982$561,400$284 cheaper homes ($116K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Aurora, CO 80015 84%896$124,702$586,300$218 cheaper homes ($92K less) · older homes
Longmont, CO 80504 84%888$113,643$591,700$230 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Gilbert, AZ 85233 83%642$111,160$513,000$290 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($165K less) · older homes
Gilbert, AZ 85234 83%643$121,102$550,900$291 cheaper homes ($127K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 83%607$122,323$547,500$230 cheaper homes ($130K less) · less walkable
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 83%665$123,898$653,100$375 Very close on everything we compare
Brighton, CO 80602 82%890$151,737$667,000$213 more homeowners
Camas, WA 98607 82%500$128,318$702,100$328 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Lewisville, TX 75077 81%1,410$127,211$464,000$219 cheaper homes ($214K less) · older homes
Riverton, UT 84065 81%526$128,192$632,100$230 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Mesa, AZ 85212 81%650$125,902$584,000$259 cheaper homes ($94K less) · less walkable
Sherwood, OR 97140 81%485$123,228$653,600$322 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hollywood, FL 33029 80%2,523$146,237$619,900$331 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Winter Garden, FL 34787 80%2,375$120,365$539,500$254 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Allen, TX 75002 80%1,433$137,037$447,800$218 cheaper homes ($230K less) · less walkable
Maple Valley, WA 98038 80%621$152,261$776,900$377 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Kent, WA 98042 80%620$127,552$658,500$339 older homes
Auburn, WA 98092 80%615$122,300$635,900$324 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98422 80%616$118,604$663,800$358 smaller · older homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 79%2,521$131,216$745,700$351 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Rockwall, TX 75032 79%1,451$135,742$491,300$198 cheaper homes ($187K less) · less walkable
Windsor, CO 80550 79%892$126,132$582,000$223 cheaper homes ($96K less) · 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.