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 95758

Elk Grove: median income $117,017, home value $582,000, $329/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gilbert, AZ 85233 92%643$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Marysville, WA 98270 90%667$108,147$579,900$362 Very close on everything we compare
Federal Way, WA 98023 89%616$104,893$589,900$320 older homes
Kent, WA 98031 89%621$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · older homes
Auburn, WA 98092 89%613$122,300$635,900$324 pricier homes ($54K more)
Auburn, WA 98001 88%615$106,791$587,400$342 smaller
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 88%664$123,898$653,100$375 pricier homes ($71K more)
Wellington, FL 33414 87%2,510$112,241$578,500$306 less walkable
Oregon City, OR 97045 87%481$103,573$587,700$313 Very close on everything we compare
Everett, WA 98208 87%655$103,705$691,500$388 pricier homes ($110K more)
Kent, WA 98042 86%619$127,552$658,500$339 pricier homes ($77K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Tacoma, WA 98422 86%615$118,604$663,800$358 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80013 85%896$101,191$474,000$225 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Aurora, CO 80015 85%896$124,702$586,300$218 more homeowners
Thornton, CO 80241 85%887$110,218$542,100$234 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Longmont, CO 80504 85%888$113,643$591,700$230 Very close on everything we compare
Glendale, AZ 85308 85%613$95,247$458,100$261 cheaper homes ($124K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Las Vegas, NV 89131 85%371$116,468$531,900$248 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Gresham, OR 97080 85%490$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Hillsboro, OR 97123 85%495$109,985$538,500$298 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Renton, WA 98058 85%624$115,201$676,000$385 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · older homes
Poulsbo, WA 98370 85%647$116,756$628,600$314 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · less walkable
Olympia, WA 98513 85%596$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Washougal, WA 98671 85%498$111,545$586,100$296 smaller · less walkable
Gilbert, AZ 85234 84%644$121,102$550,900$291 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 8 min shorter commute

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.