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 98092

Auburn: median income $122,300, home value $635,900, $324/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Murrieta, CA 92562 93%981$114,266$663,600$318 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min longer commute
American Canyon, CA 94503 93%630$121,088$697,400$385 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Wellington, FL 33414 91%2,669$112,241$578,500$306 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Temecula, CA 92591 90%986$114,160$690,600$359 pricier homes ($55K more) · more renters
Murrieta, CA 92563 89%982$125,397$645,700$301 larger · 6 min longer commute
Manteca, CA 95337 89%658$117,137$645,200$281 Very close on everything we compare
Elk Grove, CA 95758 89%613$117,017$582,000$329 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Thornton, CO 80241 88%996$110,218$542,100$234 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Fallbrook, CA 92028 88%995$111,290$842,500$426 pricier homes ($207K more) · older homes
Elk Grove, CA 95624 88%614$125,332$633,300$312 more single-family homes
Sandy, OR 97055 88%132$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller
Bridgewater, MA 02324 87%2,495$112,726$533,600$318 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller · older homes
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 87%937$143,265$895,000$416 pricier homes ($259K more)
Mira Loma, CA 91752 87%949$115,177$689,600$336 pricier homes ($54K more) · more renters
Manassas, VA 20111 86%2,297$113,879$476,000$258 cheaper homes ($160K less)
Longmont, CO 80504 86%986$113,643$591,700$230 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Temecula, CA 92592 86%988$134,313$709,000$354 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Oregon City, OR 97045 86%137$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Jackson, NJ 08527 85%2,399$115,487$485,800$299 cheaper homes ($150K less) · more homeowners
Woodbridge, VA 22193 85%2,306$117,337$444,800$264 cheaper homes ($191K less) · larger · older homes
Stafford, VA 22556 85%2,304$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller
Canyon Country, CA 91387 85%910$117,969$756,600$408 pricier homes ($121K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Oceanside, CA 92057 85%1,002$108,814$743,200$477 pricier homes ($107K more)
Fairfield, CA 94534 85%625$140,198$744,500$350 pricier homes ($109K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Ontario, CA 91761 84%945$100,578$635,000$385 older homes

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.