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 93552

Palmdale: median income $85,954, home value $451,300, $286/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spanaway, WA 98387 90%893$106,872$461,000$282 Very close on everything we compare
Wasilla, AK 99623 88%2,320$88,799$326,000$267 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller
Yelm, WA 98597 83%886$92,219$447,600$272 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Deltona, FL 32738 80%2,187$80,224$286,300$206 cheaper homes ($165K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lehigh Acres, FL 33971 79%2,216$77,723$310,000$196 cheaper homes ($141K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Lehigh Acres, FL 33974 79%2,224$72,192$312,600$196 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · newer homes
Lehigh Acres, FL 33972 78%2,220$73,819$320,600$207 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller
Graham, WA 98338 78%889$114,819$509,600$302 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($58K more) · less walkable
Ruther Glen, VA 22546 77%2,254$89,247$301,100$215 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · less walkable
Dallas, GA 30157 77%1,886$93,625$305,600$171 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Bethlehem, GA 30620 77%1,950$84,098$341,600$178 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Lehigh Acres, FL 33976 77%2,218$72,679$300,200$198 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller · newer homes
Kissimmee, FL 34758 77%2,187$66,339$309,100$173 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Front Royal, VA 22630 76%2,209$84,631$358,600$221 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
San Tan Valley, AZ 85143 75%385$93,707$389,200$201 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Buckeye, AZ 85326 75%322$89,876$373,300$210 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Maricopa, AZ 85138 74%366$95,867$378,800$178 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98445 74%897$92,520$444,800$282 10 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lupton, CO 80621 73%820$90,055$463,200$240 smaller · 11 min shorter commute · older homes
Shelton, WA 98584 73%912$78,610$393,000$299 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Yacolt, WA 98675 73%814$99,877$560,800$336 pricier homes ($110K more) · smaller · less walkable
Wasilla, AK 99654 73%2,317$97,544$363,300$254 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Culpeper, VA 22701 72%2,221$97,892$396,800$246 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Auburn, GA 30011 72%1,943$86,402$328,000$179 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33177 72%2,318$82,682$444,200$383 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable

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.