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 Manteca, CA 95336

Manteca: median income $89,172, home value $546,400, $318/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Port Orchard, WA 98366 91%676$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Tacoma, WA 98445 91%647$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Spanaway, WA 98387 87%643$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Marysville, WA 98270 86%710$108,147$579,900$362 pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33177 85%2,520$82,682$444,200$383 cheaper homes ($102K less) · more walkable
Waianae, HI 96792 85%2,470$87,509$569,400$441 more apartments and townhomes
Auburn, WA 98001 85%658$106,791$587,400$342 pricier homes ($41K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Arlington, WA 98223 85%718$99,681$601,400$389 pricier homes ($55K more)
Marysville, WA 98271 85%712$95,654$538,400$380 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98371 84%651$97,242$556,800$323 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Yelm, WA 98597 84%633$92,219$447,600$272 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · newer homes
Shelton, WA 98584 83%657$78,610$393,000$299 cheaper homes ($153K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33170 82%2,518$73,958$474,400$337 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 82%742$93,006$482,500$357 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Stanwood, WA 98292 82%720$101,765$654,100$338 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller
Front Royal, VA 22630 81%2,311$84,631$358,600$221 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Molalla, OR 97038 81%510$89,564$483,500$314 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98374 81%647$112,662$535,300$284 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98404 81%652$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more walkable · older homes
Fort Lupton, CO 80621 80%895$90,055$463,200$240 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Culpeper, VA 22701 79%2,326$97,892$396,800$246 cheaper homes ($150K less) · newer homes
Gresham, OR 97080 79%533$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Saint Helens, OR 97051 78%562$85,869$412,100$269 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Scappoose, OR 97056 77%556$94,209$469,800$268 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98031 77%663$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($65K more) · 7 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.