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 Tacoma, WA 98404

Tacoma: median income $82,191, home value $413,900, $318/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hollywood, FL 33023 93%2,715$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Ceres, CA 95307 93%669$80,627$429,500$288 Very close on everything we compare
Brockton, MA 02302 91%2,506$92,274$424,800$366 Very close on everything we compare
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 91%2,716$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($42K less)
South River, NJ 08882 89%2,400$96,147$405,200$331 smaller
Denver, CO 80221 89%1,007$86,810$472,900$272 pricier homes ($59K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Yucaipa, CA 92399 89%953$92,440$511,200$334 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Riverside, CA 92504 89%954$92,477$562,600$414 pricier homes ($149K more) · larger
Modesto, CA 95355 89%663$86,849$469,000$286 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · newer homes
North Highlands, CA 95660 89%592$68,235$356,200$348 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Highland, CA 92346 88%944$85,163$499,200$331 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · newer homes
Vallejo, CA 94589 88%626$92,735$540,400$380 pricier homes ($127K more) · older residents
Hollywood, FL 33024 87%2,711$80,061$409,400$349 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Modesto, CA 95350 87%663$75,621$429,400$312 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Citrus Heights, CA 95621 87%591$80,901$432,500$321 older residents · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Sacramento, CA 95832 87%606$82,318$399,600$288 smaller
Bloomington, CA 92316 86%945$83,587$474,100$432 pricier homes ($60K more)
Suisun City, CA 94585 86%620$94,740$580,800$359 pricier homes ($167K more) · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85053 85%1,081$70,011$367,000$247 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Riverside, CA 92503 85%954$96,268$597,300$384 pricier homes ($183K more) · larger
Hemet, CA 92544 85%974$73,596$404,500$278 less walkable
Stockton, CA 95204 85%641$75,548$387,100$285 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Oakdale, CA 95361 85%657$92,963$516,000$317 pricier homes ($102K more) · newer homes
Saint Helens, OR 97051 85%95$85,869$412,100$269 smaller · older residents
Capitol Heights, MD 20743 84%2,334$76,466$341,000$250 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.