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 Carnation, WA 98014

Carnation: median income $164,306, home value $940,600, $446/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Middleton, MA 01949 90%2,461$167,402$742,700$402 cheaper homes ($198K less)
Alpine, UT 84004 89%706$170,500$980,300$289 pricier homes ($40K more)
Santa Clarita, CA 91390 88%927$151,897$878,400$388 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Salinas, CA 93908 88%763$156,394$1,091,700$549 pricier homes ($151K more) · larger
Rescue, CA 95672 88%618$146,769$767,400$331 cheaper homes ($173K less)
Upland, CA 91784 87%958$154,349$891,600$435 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Wilmington, MA 01887 86%2,455$168,152$680,500$422 cheaper homes ($260K less) · larger · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 86%2,689$172,730$909,000$395 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Boca Raton, FL 33498 86%2,682$146,765$656,700$333 cheaper homes ($284K less) · larger
Wilton, CA 95693 86%639$161,354$918,300$402 Very close on everything we compare
Hanover, MA 02339 85%2,483$189,803$755,400$385 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger
Jupiter, FL 33478 85%2,657$139,091$699,400$460 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($241K less) · larger
Midway, UT 84049 85%714$151,343$891,500$371 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Windham, NH 03087 84%2,441$189,583$723,300$322 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger
Farmingdale, NJ 07727 84%2,391$129,931$652,400$365 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($288K less)
Wading River, NY 11792 84%2,429$146,174$597,300$396 cheaper homes ($343K less)
Pipersville, PA 18947 84%2,341$140,783$615,000$302 cheaper homes ($326K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33330 84%2,693$145,212$755,800$424 cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Eden, UT 84310 84%659$130,208$880,700$359 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Groveland, MA 01834 83%2,455$141,487$610,900$389 cheaper homes ($330K less)
Nesconset, NY 11767 83%2,418$152,985$637,900$407 cheaper homes ($303K less) · larger · older homes
Davidsonville, MD 21035 83%2,320$188,347$831,500$273 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331 83%2,692$142,636$712,000$413 cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger
Littleton, MA 01460 82%2,441$149,722$658,300$374 cheaper homes ($282K less) · older homes
Mendon, MA 01756 82%2,452$132,256$616,000$314 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($325K 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.