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 Dixon, CA 95620

Dixon: median income $103,054, home value $619,800, $339/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Molalla, OR 97038 92%463$89,564$483,500$314 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Lynden, WA 98264 92%726$103,638$609,100$341 6 min shorter commute
Beaverton, OR 97078 90%487$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Auburn, WA 98001 89%613$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Burlington, WA 98233 89%694$87,614$502,100$348 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Bremerton, WA 98312 89%633$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger
Silverton, OR 97381 88%455$89,383$539,600$313 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older residents
Marysville, WA 98271 88%667$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Puyallup, WA 98371 88%606$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 5 min longer commute
Sparks, NV 89434 87%136$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Kent, WA 98031 87%619$105,965$611,600$349 larger
Marysville, WA 98270 87%665$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Puyallup, WA 98373 87%601$103,796$565,700$280 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Bremerton, WA 98311 86%636$108,757$471,800$299 cheaper homes ($148K less) · more homeowners
Puyallup, WA 98372 86%606$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Sumner, WA 98390 86%606$97,795$510,000$341 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98446 86%601$101,938$487,500$285 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Oregon City, OR 97045 85%478$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older residents
Cornelius, OR 97113 85%494$96,859$465,400$275 cheaper homes ($154K less) · more homeowners
Forest Grove, OR 97116 85%500$92,613$495,800$262 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Port Orchard, WA 98366 85%630$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98445 85%601$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($175K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Washougal, WA 98671 85%495$111,545$586,100$296 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Woodland, WA 98674 85%519$94,245$538,000$285 cheaper homes ($82K less) · less walkable
Gresham, OR 97080 84%488$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($118K 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.