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 Forest Grove, OR 97116

Forest Grove: median income $92,613, home value $495,800, $262/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80233 96%1,003$88,880$465,400$232 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Bremerton, WA 98312 96%139$90,449$473,100$290 Very close on everything we compare
Arvada, CO 80003 93%999$91,464$534,700$265 pricier homes ($39K more)
Modesto, CA 95356 93%557$96,886$532,600$278 pricier homes ($37K more)
Lakewood, WA 98498 93%112$91,664$506,300$324 older residents
Puyallup, WA 98371 92%118$97,242$556,800$323 pricier homes ($61K more)
Attleboro, MA 02703 91%2,556$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Beltsville, MD 20705 91%2,372$110,351$446,700$237 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Lanham, MD 20706 91%2,378$104,523$429,000$242 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Denver, CO 80232 91%1,003$96,217$521,600$251 pricier homes ($26K more)
Denver, CO 80236 91%1,007$86,115$531,700$240 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Sparks, NV 89434 91%453$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Highland, CA 92346 91%853$85,163$499,200$331 larger
Glen Burnie, MD 21060 90%2,385$104,715$377,100$229 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Glendale, AZ 85306 90%1,012$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 90%857$83,628$517,600$344 smaller
Federal Way, WA 98023 90%125$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Kent, WA 98031 90%132$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($116K more)
Port Orchard, WA 98366 90%137$92,011$475,800$313 Very close on everything we compare
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 89%2,705$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($81K more)
West Palm Beach, FL 33413 89%2,691$91,131$437,200$254 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33624 89%2,517$87,760$386,100$252 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Denver, CO 80229 89%1,005$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85023 89%1,013$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Yucaipa, CA 92399 89%862$92,440$511,200$334 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.