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 Fontana, CA 92336

Fontana: median income $123,363, home value $627,700, $336/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 93%990$123,898$653,100$375 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Kent, WA 98042 87%947$127,552$658,500$339 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Monroe, WA 98272 84%978$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98092 82%942$122,300$635,900$324 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Marysville, WA 98270 82%994$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 81%933$135,037$626,800$317 smaller · less walkable
Puyallup, WA 98374 80%934$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Puyallup, WA 98375 80%933$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller · less walkable
Miami, FL 33185 79%2,276$114,206$562,700$343 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · older residents
Commerce City, CO 80022 79%795$104,396$485,100$221 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Queen Creek, AZ 85142 79%339$129,367$593,500$262 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable
Battle Ground, WA 98604 79%850$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Auburn, WA 98001 78%945$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Las Vegas, NV 89131 77%195$116,468$531,900$248 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98422 77%946$118,604$663,800$358 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Woodbridge, VA 22193 76%2,234$117,337$444,800$264 cheaper homes ($183K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Laveen, AZ 85339 76%307$110,602$441,600$229 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 76%291$122,323$547,500$230 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Spanaway, WA 98387 76%932$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller · less walkable
Hollywood, FL 33029 75%2,271$146,237$619,900$331 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Aurora, CO 80015 75%795$124,702$586,300$218 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Olympia, WA 98513 75%932$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Aurora, CO 80013 74%796$101,191$474,000$225 cheaper homes ($154K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Tooele, UT 84074 74%526$108,341$422,600$188 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Sandy, OR 97055 74%818$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($134K less) · 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.