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 95337

Manteca: median income $117,137, home value $645,200, $281/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Puyallup, WA 98375 96%647$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98374 94%649$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 93%709$123,898$653,100$375 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, WA 98092 89%658$122,300$635,900$324 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe, WA 98272 89%697$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Spanaway, WA 98387 89%645$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 89%649$135,037$626,800$317 Very close on everything we compare
Marysville, WA 98270 86%712$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Johnstown, CO 80534 85%891$129,024$553,300$221 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98042 85%664$127,552$658,500$339 older homes
Stanwood, WA 98292 85%722$101,765$654,100$338 smaller · older residents
Yelm, WA 98597 85%635$92,219$447,600$272 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller
Battle Ground, WA 98604 85%557$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 84%2,355$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($236K less)
Surprise, AZ 85388 84%570$112,164$459,900$221 cheaper homes ($185K less)
Sandy, OR 97055 84%527$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Stafford, VA 22556 83%2,354$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
Arlington, WA 98223 83%720$99,681$601,400$389 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents
Graham, WA 98338 83%641$114,819$509,600$302 cheaper homes ($136K less) · less walkable
San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 82%631$101,477$445,000$231 cheaper homes ($200K less)
King George, VA 22485 81%2,377$117,560$428,300$197 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller
Culpeper, VA 22701 81%2,328$97,892$396,800$246 cheaper homes ($248K less)
Goodyear, AZ 85338 81%580$101,744$436,300$226 cheaper homes ($209K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 81%576$122,323$547,500$230 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Auburn, WA 98001 81%660$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older 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.