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 Galt, CA 95632

Galt: median income $102,239, home value $522,200, $312/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marysville, WA 98271 94%681$95,654$538,400$380 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, WA 98001 93%627$106,791$587,400$342 pricier homes ($65K more)
Arlington, WA 98223 93%686$99,681$601,400$389 pricier homes ($79K more)
Stanwood, WA 98292 93%688$101,765$654,100$338 pricier homes ($132K more)
Yelm, WA 98597 93%601$92,219$447,600$272 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Battle Ground, WA 98604 93%524$112,448$589,800$299 pricier homes ($68K more)
Sandy, OR 97055 92%494$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Marysville, WA 98270 92%678$108,147$579,900$362 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 92%710$93,006$482,500$357 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Culpeper, VA 22701 91%2,323$97,892$396,800$246 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Spanaway, WA 98387 91%611$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98445 91%615$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Washougal, WA 98671 91%509$111,545$586,100$296 pricier homes ($64K more)
Puyallup, WA 98374 90%615$112,662$535,300$284 larger
Puyallup, WA 98375 89%613$117,074$522,100$263 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98446 89%615$101,938$487,500$285 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Palmer, AK 99645 89%1,998$100,455$367,400$268 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Henderson, NV 89002 88%383$105,471$448,900$238 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Port Orchard, WA 98366 88%644$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Olympia, WA 98513 88%607$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Woodland, WA 98674 88%534$94,245$538,000$285 smaller
Fort Lupton, CO 80621 87%891$90,055$463,200$240 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · older homes
Kuna, ID 83634 87%443$97,171$432,600$272 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Puyallup, WA 98371 87%619$97,242$556,800$323 pricier homes ($35K more) · older homes
Wasilla, AK 99654 87%2,007$97,544$363,300$254 cheaper homes ($159K less)

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.