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 Oakley, CA 94561

Oakley: median income $134,678, home value $659,800, $336/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 90%693$123,898$653,100$375 5 min shorter commute
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 90%633$135,037$626,800$317 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Monroe, WA 98272 87%682$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($54K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98042 86%648$127,552$658,500$339 7 min shorter commute
Graham, WA 98338 86%625$114,819$509,600$302 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Spanaway, WA 98387 85%628$106,872$461,000$282 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($199K less)
Puyallup, WA 98375 84%630$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($138K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Orting, WA 98360 83%628$125,842$505,200$286 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller
Snohomish, WA 98290 82%684$132,973$784,200$407 pricier homes ($124K more) · older residents
Puyallup, WA 98374 82%633$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($125K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Loxahatchee, FL 33470 81%2,517$122,163$584,500$301 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Enumclaw, WA 98022 80%641$120,406$608,500$352 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · older residents
Stanwood, WA 98292 80%706$101,765$654,100$338 lower income ($33K less) · smaller · older residents
Mechanicsville, MD 20659 79%2,417$121,654$416,900$230 cheaper homes ($243K less) · smaller
Stafford, VA 22556 79%2,375$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($174K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Buckley, WA 98321 79%633$127,411$571,200$296 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98422 77%644$118,604$663,800$358 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33187 76%2,543$115,206$574,300$352 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller · older residents
Auburn, WA 98092 76%642$122,300$635,900$324 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Marysville, WA 98270 76%696$108,147$579,900$362 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($80K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Port Orchard, WA 98367 76%657$115,482$565,100$294 cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Battle Ground, WA 98604 76%540$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 12 min shorter commute
Spotsylvania, VA 22553 75%2,371$135,856$480,200$210 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller
Prince Frederick, MD 20678 74%2,422$125,732$455,100$200 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 74%2,376$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($250K less)

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.