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 Paso Robles, CA 93446

Paso Robles: median income $97,943, home value $707,500, $431/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oregon City, OR 97045 93%677$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Everett, WA 98208 93%850$103,705$691,500$388 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, WA 98001 92%810$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Kent, WA 98031 91%815$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Marysville, WA 98270 91%862$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Canby, OR 97013 89%672$101,832$562,300$317 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller
Marysville, WA 98271 89%864$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($169K less)
Puyallup, WA 98371 88%803$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller
Washougal, WA 98671 87%693$111,545$586,100$296 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 86%779$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller
Federal Way, WA 98023 86%811$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 5 min longer commute
Renton, WA 98058 86%819$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Gresham, OR 97080 85%686$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($206K less)
Silverton, OR 97381 85%655$89,383$539,600$313 cheaper homes ($168K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98203 85%854$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($99K less) · more walkable · older homes
Beaverton, OR 97078 84%687$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($229K less) · smaller
Hillsboro, OR 97123 84%691$109,985$538,500$298 cheaper homes ($169K less)
Arlington, WA 98223 84%870$99,681$601,400$389 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 6 min longer commute
Lynden, WA 98264 84%923$103,638$609,100$341 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · younger residents
Port Orchard, WA 98366 84%828$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($232K less) · 6 min longer commute
Olympia, WA 98516 84%800$98,892$572,500$322 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · newer homes
Pearl City, HI 96782 83%2,448$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($167K more) · older homes
Wailuku, HI 96793 83%2,387$107,668$832,400$656 pricier homes ($125K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Lynnwood, WA 98036 83%844$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($52K more)
Ferndale, WA 98248 83%919$91,060$589,600$373 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller · 5 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.