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 Auburn, WA 98001

Auburn: median income $106,791, home value $587,400, $342/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oregon City, OR 97045 95%137$103,573$587,700$313 larger
Oakdale, CA 95361 94%663$92,963$516,000$317 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Orangevale, CA 95662 94%598$96,689$558,300$352 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Vacaville, CA 95688 94%617$118,186$687,100$379 pricier homes ($100K more)
Galt, CA 95632 93%627$102,239$522,200$312 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Antelope, CA 95843 93%596$98,274$489,700$313 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Gresham, OR 97080 93%127$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Yucaipa, CA 92399 92%957$92,440$511,200$334 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Paso Robles, CA 93446 92%810$97,943$707,500$431 pricier homes ($120K more)
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 91%2,512$102,079$484,800$309 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Chino, CA 91710 91%949$103,085$686,500$445 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Ontario, CA 91761 91%949$100,578$635,000$385 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Lodi, CA 95242 91%636$104,721$567,100$326 6 min shorter commute
Sandy, OR 97055 91%133$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 90%2,439$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($100K less) · older homes
Fontana, CA 92337 90%950$107,678$573,000$389 Very close on everything we compare
American Canyon, CA 94503 90%632$121,088$697,400$385 pricier homes ($110K more) · smaller
Vallejo, CA 94591 90%636$104,550$630,500$352 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Stockton, CA 95209 90%642$108,675$494,900$260 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Ripon, CA 95366 90%663$112,097$707,800$373 pricier homes ($120K more) · smaller
Middleboro, MA 02346 89%2,509$97,056$468,700$299 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
Mira Loma, CA 91752 89%953$115,177$689,600$336 pricier homes ($102K more) · more renters
Highland, CA 92346 89%948$85,163$499,200$331 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Lancaster, CA 93536 89%891$106,903$534,200$263 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · less walkable
Salinas, CA 93907 89%730$104,942$750,100$484 pricier homes ($163K more)

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.