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 92337

Fontana: median income $107,678, home value $573,000, $389/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Auburn, WA 98001 90%950$106,791$587,400$342 Very close on everything we compare
Marysville, WA 98270 89%998$108,147$579,900$362 larger
Marysville, WA 98271 84%1,001$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Port Orchard, WA 98366 83%969$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Battle Ground, WA 98604 82%854$112,448$589,800$299 Very close on everything we compare
Molalla, OR 97038 81%811$89,564$483,500$314 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Gresham, OR 97080 81%832$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Cornelius, OR 97113 81%846$96,859$465,400$275 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 81%994$123,898$653,100$375 pricier homes ($80K more)
West Valley City, UT 84128 80%548$110,726$438,300$242 cheaper homes ($135K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Monroe, WA 98272 80%982$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($140K more)
Puyallup, WA 98371 80%943$97,242$556,800$323 more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98445 80%940$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Vancouver, WA 98682 80%846$99,918$462,700$302 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Mastic, NY 11950 79%2,465$97,661$433,700$357 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · less walkable
Commerce City, CO 80022 79%799$104,396$485,100$221 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · newer homes
Sandy, OR 97055 79%822$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98031 79%954$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($39K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Spanaway, WA 98387 79%936$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($112K less) · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Olympia, WA 98513 79%936$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Kent, WA 98042 78%951$127,552$658,500$339 pricier homes ($86K more)
Arlington, WA 98223 78%1,005$99,681$601,400$389 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Washougal, WA 98671 78%838$111,545$586,100$296 older residents
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 77%2,451$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older homes
Brighton, CO 80601 77%809$105,417$497,700$214 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.