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 Sacramento, CA 95841

Sacramento: median income $61,054, home value $424,500, $289/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lakewood, WA 98499 94%591$67,292$408,500$327 larger
Phoenix, AZ 85015 92%626$54,874$345,000$247 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85021 92%625$59,768$470,400$321 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Mesa, AZ 85210 90%643$61,957$337,800$260 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Las Vegas, NV 89146 90%378$62,899$452,000$242 pricier homes ($28K more)
Gresham, OR 97030 90%477$69,239$435,700$254 larger
Lowell, MA 01854 89%2,597$72,709$412,000$330 Very close on everything we compare
Nashville, TN 37210 89%1,896$50,284$355,600$315 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Dallas, TX 75220 89%1,425$69,843$500,200$388 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98188 89%609$76,438$456,400$323 pricier homes ($32K more)
Hollywood, FL 33020 88%2,534$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · older homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 88%2,528$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 88%522$65,548$434,700$306 7 min shorter commute
Mesa, AZ 85201 88%641$67,294$328,800$252 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Las Vegas, NV 89102 88%379$49,843$376,300$247 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98409 88%593$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Miami, FL 33174 87%2,531$59,185$403,600$332 larger · more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 87%2,528$66,100$383,400$347 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · newer homes
West Palm Beach, FL 33403 87%2,510$70,646$368,800$272 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Lake Worth, FL 33460 87%2,518$62,090$405,400$357 larger · more single-family homes
Phoenix, AZ 85008 87%633$66,353$358,000$288 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Reno, NV 89502 86%102$65,328$413,200$310 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97233 86%477$60,198$414,600$267 larger · more homeowners
Hialeah, FL 33014 85%2,530$77,338$424,200$327 larger · older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89104 85%383$52,228$325,500$256 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger

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.