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 Murrieta, CA 92562

Murrieta: median income $114,266, home value $663,600, $318/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Puyallup, WA 98374 95%974$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Auburn, WA 98092 93%981$122,300$635,900$324 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 93%1,029$123,898$653,100$375 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe, WA 98272 89%1,017$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98375 88%972$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98042 87%987$127,552$658,500$339 5 min shorter commute
Marysville, WA 98270 87%1,033$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Woodbridge, VA 22193 85%2,239$117,337$444,800$264 cheaper homes ($219K less) · older homes
Tacoma, WA 98422 85%986$118,604$663,800$358 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33185 84%2,264$114,206$562,700$343 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · older residents
Wellington, FL 33414 84%2,252$112,241$578,500$306 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 84%972$135,037$626,800$317 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Miami, FL 33196 83%2,266$94,961$489,600$328 cheaper homes ($174K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Federal Way, WA 98023 83%986$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Manassas, VA 20111 82%2,233$113,879$476,000$258 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 82%2,229$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($254K less)
Stafford, VA 22556 82%2,230$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98001 82%985$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Renton, WA 98058 82%992$115,201$676,000$385 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Snohomish, WA 98290 82%1,021$132,973$784,200$407 pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller
Stanwood, WA 98292 82%1,045$101,765$654,100$338 smaller · older residents
Kent, WA 98031 81%989$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Arlington, WA 98223 81%1,041$99,681$601,400$389 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Bridgewater, MA 02324 80%2,562$112,726$533,600$318 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Sandy, OR 97055 80%858$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute

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.