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 Renton, WA 98055

Renton: median income $97,224, home value $602,800, $326/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 94%2,698$97,412$500,700$296 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Denver, CO 80234 93%1,002$92,563$530,300$237 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Beaverton, OR 97003 91%138$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($125K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Rohnert Park, CA 94928 90%630$99,280$666,000$413 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95833 90%612$97,792$464,400$302 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger
Wilsonville, OR 97070 90%152$97,429$631,400$285 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Arvada, CO 80002 89%1,003$93,362$558,500$322 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Orlando, FL 32819 87%2,538$98,109$489,700$278 cheaper homes ($113K less) · older residents
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 87%2,697$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95834 87%611$101,260$557,600$289 cheaper homes ($45K less) · newer homes
Marlborough, MA 01752 86%2,460$91,968$513,100$303 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · older homes
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 86%2,454$89,185$452,700$340 cheaper homes ($150K less) · older residents
Sandy, UT 84070 86%699$78,991$461,900$273 cheaper homes ($141K less) · 5 min shorter commute
San Marcos, CA 92069 86%1,024$96,771$800,700$493 pricier homes ($198K more) · larger
Clackamas, OR 97015 86%142$87,333$527,800$297 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Hillsboro, OR 97124 86%138$110,067$556,300$313 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22306 85%2,319$97,132$594,000$343 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Broomfield, CO 80021 85%999$110,038$568,000$292 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Stockton, CA 95219 85%655$112,268$581,300$270 more single-family homes
Tualatin, OR 97062 85%147$105,407$640,300$293 pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80227 84%1,009$90,316$559,200$266 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 84%614$89,484$491,100$319 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95826 84%617$82,127$463,300$320 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger · older homes
Happy Valley, OR 97086 84%140$102,359$697,400$285 pricier homes ($95K more) · older residents
Newberg, OR 97132 84%153$96,493$522,900$310 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more single-family 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.