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 Chualar, CA 93925

Chualar: median income $72,604, home value $679,300, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Angel, OR 97362 68%590$66,250$462,400$287 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger · more homeowners
Waimea, HI 96796 59%2,496$89,205$769,700$627 pricier homes ($90K more) · older residents · older homes
Sumas, WA 98295 59%856$98,965$456,200$296 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($223K less) · larger
Brewster, WA 98812 59%801$59,297$354,500$273 cheaper homes ($325K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Tangent, OR 97389 57%557$94,909$433,000$295 cheaper homes ($246K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Orondo, WA 98843 57%770$69,425$750,900$295 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · older residents
Bigfoot, TX 78005 56%1,406$70,559$263,000$218 cheaper homes ($416K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Gordonville, PA 17529 55%2,442$80,050$362,100$232 cheaper homes ($317K less) · larger · younger residents
Prescott, WA 99348 55%692$79,167$237,200— cheaper homes ($442K less) · less walkable
Lanai City, HI 96763 54%2,392$92,417$638,400$517 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older residents
Bowling Green, VA 22427 53%2,411$81,488$315,700$214 cheaper homes ($364K less) · larger · more homeowners
Mattawa, WA 99349 52%705$61,333$427,800$383 cheaper homes ($252K less) · larger · younger residents
North Bonneville, WA 98639 51%625$100,417$445,900$493 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($233K less) · older residents
Kaiser, MO 65047 50%1,581$53,750$264,600$220 cheaper homes ($415K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Sumner, WA 98390 50%735$97,795$510,000$341 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger
Christiana, PA 17509 49%2,447$77,238$331,600$215 cheaper homes ($348K less) · larger · younger residents
Newport, MN 55055 49%1,585$71,979$378,100$245 cheaper homes ($301K less) · larger · more homeowners
Marsing, ID 83639 49%538$64,042$461,900$289 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger · more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98424 49%737$94,122$561,600$325 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
South Hackensack, NJ 07606 48%2,540$84,527$546,500$484 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger · more walkable
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 48%2,098$53,191$284,100$340 cheaper homes ($395K less) · larger
Kekaha, HI 96752 48%2,498$90,174$682,900$727 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Independence, OR 97351 48%578$88,519$396,800$294 cheaper homes ($283K less) · larger · more homeowners
Burlington, WA 98233 48%822$87,614$502,100$348 cheaper homes ($177K less) · larger · more homeowners
Royal City, WA 99357 48%719$57,034$326,700$252 cheaper homes ($353K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.