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 Ripon, CA 95366

Ripon: median income $112,097, home value $707,800, $373/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washougal, WA 98671 91%546$111,545$586,100$296 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Auburn, WA 98001 90%663$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Canby, OR 97013 88%525$101,832$562,300$317 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Lynden, WA 98264 87%776$103,638$609,100$341 cheaper homes ($99K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Vancouver, WA 98686 87%556$107,801$596,700$294 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Marysville, WA 98270 86%715$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Oregon City, OR 97045 85%530$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Silverton, OR 97381 85%507$89,383$539,600$313 cheaper homes ($168K less)
Marysville, WA 98271 85%717$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger
Battle Ground, WA 98604 85%560$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · more homeowners
Kent, WA 98031 84%668$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Mount Vernon, WA 98274 84%735$96,177$547,700$360 cheaper homes ($160K less) · less walkable
Bremerton, WA 98311 84%687$108,757$471,800$299 cheaper homes ($236K less)
Sandy, OR 97055 83%530$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($214K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Puyallup, WA 98371 83%656$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($151K less) · 5 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98422 83%663$118,604$663,800$358 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Olympia, WA 98513 83%644$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($237K less) · larger · more homeowners
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 82%2,641$102,079$484,800$309 cheaper homes ($223K less) · older homes
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 82%754$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($91K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Hayden, ID 83835 82%729$91,316$562,000$337 cheaper homes ($146K less) · more homeowners
Everett, WA 98208 82%703$103,705$691,500$388 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Poulsbo, WA 98370 82%695$116,756$628,600$314 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Olympia, WA 98516 82%652$98,892$572,500$322 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bellport, NY 11713 81%2,554$108,173$482,800$421 cheaper homes ($225K less) · smaller · older homes
Gilbert, AZ 85233 81%605$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger

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.