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.

Reset

Towns most like Tracy, CA 95376

Tracy: median income $102,555, home value $618,100, $363/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waianae, HI 96792 88%2,457$87,509$569,400$441 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Marysville, WA 98270 84%714$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Port Orchard, WA 98366 84%680$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($142K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98374 81%651$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Federal Way, WA 98023 80%663$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Spanaway, WA 98387 80%647$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($157K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Tacoma, WA 98445 80%651$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($173K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Auburn, WA 98001 79%663$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Kent, WA 98031 79%668$105,965$611,600$349 10 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98371 78%655$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33177 76%2,531$82,682$444,200$383 cheaper homes ($174K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 76%711$123,898$653,100$375 pricier homes ($35K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Marysville, WA 98271 76%717$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98404 76%656$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33170 74%2,530$73,958$474,400$337 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller
Molalla, OR 97038 74%514$89,564$483,500$314 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Arlington, WA 98223 74%722$99,681$601,400$389 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Manassas, VA 20111 73%2,364$113,879$476,000$258 cheaper homes ($142K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33157 73%2,534$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Monroe, WA 98272 73%700$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98375 73%649$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33196 72%2,527$94,961$489,600$328 cheaper homes ($129K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Brighton, CO 80601 72%907$105,417$497,700$214 cheaper homes ($120K less) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Auburn, WA 98092 72%661$122,300$635,900$324 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners · newer homes
Stanwood, WA 98292 72%724$101,765$654,100$338 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents

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.