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 98408

Tacoma: median income $80,899, home value $410,500, $320/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stockton, CA 95204 92%641$75,548$387,100$285 Very close on everything we compare
Miami, FL 33168 91%2,721$65,777$383,000$376 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Sacramento, CA 95822 91%603$86,801$466,000$345 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Franklin Park, IL 60131 90%1,725$76,658$287,000$278 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Sacramento, CA 95820 90%601$78,436$416,900$375 larger · more renters
Warwick, RI 02888 88%2,499$91,867$350,000$317 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents
Warwick, RI 02889 88%2,501$83,946$336,000$297 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents
Cranston, RI 02910 88%2,496$90,698$338,700$271 cheaper homes ($72K less)
South River, NJ 08882 88%2,402$96,147$405,200$331 Very close on everything we compare
Keyport, NJ 07735 87%2,410$97,536$406,000$382 older residents
Levittown, PA 19057 87%2,389$93,738$328,000$263 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Saint Petersburg, FL 33713 87%2,520$74,707$323,000$342 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80221 87%1,008$86,810$472,900$272 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · newer homes
Brockton, MA 02302 85%2,507$92,274$424,800$366 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Astoria, OR 97103 85%97$75,147$460,100$292 pricier homes ($50K more) · less walkable
Keansburg, NJ 07734 84%2,413$82,029$346,900$340 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · more renters
Levittown, PA 19055 84%2,390$92,476$315,600$274 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · less walkable
Denver, CO 80219 84%1,013$68,415$454,600$344 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more renters
Lynn, MA 01904 83%2,497$99,614$560,500$391 pricier homes ($150K more)
Wilmington, DE 19804 83%2,367$79,701$264,100$219 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Melrose Park, IL 60164 83%1,725$81,263$258,300$261 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Stratford, CT 06615 82%2,437$81,534$364,700$306 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Hillside, NJ 07205 82%2,401$99,528$397,400$353 more apartments and townhomes
Runnemede, NJ 08078 82%2,389$86,741$250,800$235 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33023 82%2,716$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 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.