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 98444

Tacoma: median income $65,342, home value $416,400, $310/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stockton, CA 95207 96%634$69,455$432,800$261 Very close on everything we compare
Sacramento, CA 95842 95%587$68,276$413,700$313 Very close on everything we compare
Miami, FL 33169 94%2,718$62,562$403,200$328 Very close on everything we compare
Stockton, CA 95210 93%633$67,991$362,300$281 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Aurora, CO 80010 92%1,017$63,579$424,600$305 older homes
Yuba City, CA 95991 92%557$70,590$406,800$254 Very close on everything we compare
Lancaster, CA 93534 91%889$61,866$375,200$296 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Sacramento, CA 95823 91%601$66,895$401,500$308 larger
Marysville, CA 95901 91%553$69,776$381,000$264 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Portland, OR 97233 91%113$60,198$414,600$267 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Worth, FL 33460 90%2,693$62,090$405,400$357 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, CO 80011 90%1,019$74,022$409,100$235 larger
Glendale, AZ 85302 89%1,081$65,132$364,100$230 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Sparks, NV 89431 88%542$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Colton, CA 92324 88%945$71,078$445,100$372 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
San Bernardino, CA 92404 88%938$66,701$426,300$356 larger · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95824 88%598$56,477$345,300$339 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Salem, OR 97305 88%150$66,326$372,200$277 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85029 87%1,081$64,556$345,600$249 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Turlock, CA 95380 87%672$74,534$433,600$321 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Orlando, FL 32809 86%2,546$57,879$323,800$232 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 86%2,708$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85040 86%1,095$60,727$329,800$251 cheaper homes ($87K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Mesa, AZ 85210 86%1,101$61,957$337,800$260 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Riverside, CA 92501 86%947$81,886$509,300$410 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller

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.