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 Ridgefield, WA 98642

Ridgefield: median income $120,822, home value $652,400, $301/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sparks, NV 89436 94%452$114,100$588,500$303 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Berthoud, CO 80513 89%963$126,726$600,600$249 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85086 89%998$121,676$598,900$267 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89141 89%780$122,339$549,100$241 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
Bakersfield, CA 93314 89%742$126,250$543,900$245 cheaper homes ($109K less) · younger residents
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 88%1,007$122,323$547,500$230 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
Indio, CA 92203 88%898$97,311$553,700$263 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Sherwood, OR 97140 88%31$123,228$653,600$322 Very close on everything we compare
Boerne, TX 78006 87%1,697$116,156$543,900$229 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Parker, CO 80138 87%1,008$145,013$723,600$230 pricier homes ($71K more)
Windsor, CO 80550 87%966$126,132$582,000$223 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Mesa, AZ 85207 87%1,034$108,699$505,000$282 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · older residents
Henderson, NV 89044 87%787$108,155$570,700$263 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents
Sacramento, CA 95829 87%510$105,395$621,100$292 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Gorham, ME 04038 86%2,521$112,312$460,900$301 cheaper homes ($192K less) · older homes
Virginia Beach, VA 23456 86%2,465$130,533$474,700$251 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
Thompsons Station, TN 37179 86%1,976$136,188$570,200$296 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Sunbury, OH 43074 86%2,027$119,296$426,100$205 cheaper homes ($226K less) · smaller
Billings, MT 59106 86%676$125,833$496,500$246 cheaper homes ($156K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Star, ID 83669 86%336$100,091$586,400$276 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Mesa, AZ 85212 86%1,040$125,902$584,000$259 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · younger residents
Gilbert, AZ 85297 86%1,042$130,755$600,600$271 cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents
Glendale, AZ 85310 86%1,003$122,137$552,900$276 cheaper homes ($100K less) · more single-family homes
Goodyear, AZ 85395 86%1,010$105,935$564,800$237 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · older residents
Pelham, NH 03076 85%2,508$135,956$552,600$312 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · older 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.