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 Ontario, CA 91761

Ontario: median income $100,578, home value $635,000, $385/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marysville, WA 98270 94%998$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Kent, WA 98031 93%953$105,965$611,600$349 smaller
Auburn, WA 98001 91%949$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Federal Way, WA 98023 91%950$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Puyallup, WA 98371 91%942$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98208 90%987$103,705$691,500$388 pricier homes ($57K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Port Orchard, WA 98366 90%969$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
Marysville, WA 98271 89%1,000$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Gresham, OR 97080 87%831$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Oregon City, OR 97045 86%824$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98445 86%939$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller
Forest Grove, OR 97116 85%851$92,613$495,800$262 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller
Arlington, WA 98223 85%1,005$99,681$601,400$389 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents · less walkable
Puyallup, WA 98374 85%938$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Auburn, WA 98092 84%945$122,300$635,900$324 newer homes
Bremerton, WA 98312 84%972$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Molalla, OR 97038 83%810$89,564$483,500$314 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller
Renton, WA 98058 83%956$115,201$676,000$385 pricier homes ($41K more)
Denver, CO 80233 82%808$88,880$465,400$232 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Waianae, HI 96792 82%2,609$87,509$569,400$441 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 9 min longer commute
Everett, WA 98203 82%990$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
Puyallup, WA 98373 82%938$103,796$565,700$280 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · more renters
Lakewood, WA 98498 82%943$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · older residents
Vancouver, WA 98682 82%844$99,918$462,700$302 cheaper homes ($172K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Patchogue, NY 11772 81%2,467$105,245$474,800$400 cheaper homes ($160K less) · older residents · 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.