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 Elk Grove, CA 95624

Elk Grove: median income $125,332, home value $633,300, $312/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kent, WA 98042 95%619$127,552$658,500$339 pricier homes ($25K more)
Elk Grove, CA 95758 94%4$117,017$582,000$329 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Fairfield, CA 94534 93%44$140,198$744,500$350 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 93%664$123,898$653,100$375 Very close on everything we compare
Battle Ground, WA 98604 93%513$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Las Vegas, NV 89131 92%367$116,468$531,900$248 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Fontana, CA 92336 91%369$123,363$627,700$336 larger · 6 min longer commute
Temecula, CA 92592 91%415$134,313$709,000$354 pricier homes ($76K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lincoln, CA 95648 91%33$112,333$657,800$346 Very close on everything we compare
Elk Grove, CA 95757 91%4$138,198$677,800$306 pricier homes ($45K more)
Stockton, CA 95212 90%28$111,720$538,500$323 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Roseville, CA 95747 90%24$136,750$687,600$326 pricier homes ($54K more)
Olympia, WA 98513 90%596$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95829 89%3$105,395$621,100$292 smaller
Auburn, WA 98001 89%616$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Gilbert, AZ 85233 88%639$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 88%604$122,323$547,500$230 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Palmdale, CA 93551 88%316$119,801$585,100$264 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 7 min longer commute
Vacaville, CA 95688 88%34$118,186$687,100$379 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · older homes
Auburn, WA 98092 88%614$122,300$635,900$324 more apartments and townhomes
Marysville, WA 98270 88%667$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Monroe, WA 98272 88%653$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98422 88%615$118,604$663,800$358 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Washougal, WA 98671 88%498$111,545$586,100$296 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Longmont, CO 80504 87%884$113,643$591,700$230 cheaper homes ($42K less)

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.

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