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.

Reset

Towns most like Sacramento, CA 95820

Sacramento: median income $78,436, home value $416,900, $375/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80219 90%882$68,415$454,600$344 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98408 90%601$80,899$410,500$320 smaller · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33603 87%2,347$74,081$391,000$322 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Saint Petersburg, FL 33713 86%2,342$74,707$323,000$342 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Portland, OR 97220 86%487$70,137$450,200$325 pricier homes ($33K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Vancouver, WA 98663 86%496$86,018$450,300$299 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77009 84%1,602$83,148$420,200$266 more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80221 83%884$86,810$472,900$272 pricier homes ($56K more)
Hollywood, FL 33023 82%2,536$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33168 82%2,539$65,777$383,000$376 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more homeowners
Keansburg, NJ 07734 80%2,496$82,029$346,900$340 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
South River, NJ 08882 80%2,483$96,147$405,200$331 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Astoria, OR 97103 80%540$75,147$460,100$292 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · less walkable
Cranston, RI 02910 79%2,613$90,698$338,700$271 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33604 79%2,347$58,766$311,900$275 cheaper homes ($105K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75223 79%1,437$73,318$265,100$271 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller
Eugene, OR 97404 79%394$86,776$424,800$294 more homeowners · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98168 79%620$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($131K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Keyport, NJ 07735 78%2,493$97,536$406,000$382 smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
West Palm Beach, FL 33405 78%2,521$87,341$467,100$631 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents
Ogden, UT 84403 78%536$88,236$422,900$214 more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97203 78%492$78,660$484,400$308 pricier homes ($68K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Cranston, RI 02920 77%2,612$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Worth, TX 76110 77%1,408$69,790$258,000$231 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Portland, OR 97266 77%483$72,577$445,700$302 pricier homes ($29K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes

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.