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 Stanwood, WA 98292

Stanwood: median income $101,765, home value $654,100, $338/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Galt, CA 95632 93%688$102,239$522,200$312 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Ramona, CA 92065 91%1,087$125,285$800,100$394 pricier homes ($146K more)
Alpine, CA 91901 88%1,102$114,167$852,000$456 pricier homes ($198K more) · smaller
Silt, CO 81652 87%945$101,038$530,000$310 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Wildomar, CA 92595 87%1,043$106,047$562,000$287 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Valley Center, CA 92082 86%1,070$126,544$833,600$416 pricier homes ($180K more)
Palmdale, CA 93551 86%964$119,801$585,100$264 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Colfax, CA 95713 86%634$87,839$487,000$312 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller
Sandy, OR 97055 86%195$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($160K less)
Middleboro, MA 02346 85%2,503$97,056$468,700$299 cheaper homes ($185K less) · older homes
Manteca, CA 95337 85%722$117,137$645,200$281 larger · younger residents
Oakdale, CA 95361 85%725$92,963$516,000$317 cheaper homes ($138K less) · more walkable
Raynham, MA 02767 84%2,494$124,105$522,400$332 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller
Fallbrook, CA 92028 84%1,059$111,290$842,500$426 pricier homes ($188K more) · larger
Quail Valley, CA 92587 84%1,036$104,290$632,900$355 smaller · 9 min longer commute
Lancaster, CA 93536 84%952$106,903$534,200$263 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · younger residents
Tehachapi, CA 93561 84%925$87,357$408,800$252 cheaper homes ($245K less)
Bridgewater, MA 02324 83%2,496$112,726$533,600$318 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Naples, FL 34120 83%2,658$93,861$495,600$308 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger · newer homes
Stevensville, MT 59870 83%406$80,325$515,600$354 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller
Gardnerville, NV 89460 83%655$92,292$501,700$368 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller · older residents
Sacramento, CA 95829 83%674$105,395$621,100$292 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Jackson, NJ 08527 82%2,406$115,487$485,800$299 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger
New Egypt, NJ 08533 82%2,398$113,583$492,500$279 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller
Culpeper, VA 22701 82%2,293$97,892$396,800$246 cheaper homes ($257K 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.