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 92563

Murrieta: median income $125,397, home value $645,700, $301/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 91%1,030$123,898$653,100$375 smaller
Auburn, WA 98092 89%982$122,300$635,900$324 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98374 88%975$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98375 87%973$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Monroe, WA 98272 85%1,018$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 83%973$135,037$626,800$317 less walkable
Miami, FL 33185 82%2,258$114,206$562,700$343 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · older residents
Kent, WA 98042 82%988$127,552$658,500$339 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Marysville, WA 98270 81%1,034$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Woodbridge, VA 22193 80%2,233$117,337$444,800$264 cheaper homes ($201K less) · older homes
Stafford, VA 22556 79%2,225$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller · less walkable
Spanaway, WA 98387 77%972$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller · less walkable
Tacoma, WA 98422 77%987$118,604$663,800$358 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 76%2,224$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($236K less) · less walkable
Lithia, FL 33547 76%2,109$123,258$524,300$221 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · less walkable
Longmont, CO 80504 76%813$113,643$591,700$230 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Queen Creek, AZ 85142 76%320$129,367$593,500$262 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Sandy, OR 97055 76%859$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Manassas, VA 20111 75%2,227$113,879$476,000$258 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Wellington, FL 33414 75%2,246$112,241$578,500$306 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Commerce City, CO 80022 75%804$104,396$485,100$221 cheaper homes ($161K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Thornton, CO 80241 75%803$110,218$542,100$234 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Brighton, CO 80601 75%814$105,417$497,700$214 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Maple Valley, WA 98038 75%988$152,261$776,900$377 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($131K more) · smaller
Battle Ground, WA 98604 75%891$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 10 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.