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 Palmdale, CA 93551

Palmdale: median income $119,801, home value $585,100, $264/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 93%948$123,898$653,100$375 pricier homes ($68K more)
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 93%890$135,037$626,800$317 pricier homes ($42K more)
Kent, WA 98042 92%905$127,552$658,500$339 pricier homes ($73K more)
Puyallup, WA 98374 91%891$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Puyallup, WA 98375 91%890$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 90%2,257$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Spanaway, WA 98387 89%888$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Stafford, VA 22556 88%2,258$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller
Surprise, AZ 85388 88%338$112,164$459,900$221 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller · newer homes
Monroe, WA 98272 88%936$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller
Battle Ground, WA 98604 88%805$112,448$589,800$299 8 min shorter commute
Jackson, NJ 08527 87%2,418$115,487$485,800$299 cheaper homes ($99K less)
King George, VA 22485 87%2,280$117,560$428,300$197 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller
Fredericksburg, VA 22405 86%2,263$128,259$433,000$212 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Stanwood, WA 98292 86%964$101,765$654,100$338 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 85%397$101,477$445,000$231 cheaper homes ($140K less) · newer homes
Sandy, OR 97055 85%774$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Graham, WA 98338 85%884$114,819$509,600$302 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Port Orchard, WA 98367 85%918$115,482$565,100$294 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Mechanicsville, MD 20659 84%2,301$121,654$416,900$230 cheaper homes ($168K less) · smaller
Woodbridge, VA 22193 84%2,266$117,337$444,800$264 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dacula, GA 30019 84%1,952$116,583$440,700$168 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Canton, GA 30115 84%1,919$113,089$485,500$203 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Apopka, FL 32712 84%2,185$108,734$422,700$208 cheaper homes ($162K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 84%341$122,323$547,500$230 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes

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.