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 Puyallup, WA 98371

Puyallup: median income $97,242, home value $556,800, $323/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Yucaipa, CA 92399 95%950$92,440$511,200$334 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Oakdale, CA 95361 95%656$92,963$516,000$317 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Middleboro, MA 02346 93%2,512$97,056$468,700$299 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Modesto, CA 95356 93%660$96,886$532,600$278 Very close on everything we compare
Silverton, OR 97381 93%154$89,383$539,600$313 smaller
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 92%2,515$102,079$484,800$309 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Orangevale, CA 95662 92%591$96,689$558,300$352 Very close on everything we compare
Scappoose, OR 97056 92%103$94,209$469,800$268 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Gresham, OR 97080 92%119$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Forest Grove, OR 97116 92%118$92,613$495,800$262 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Ontario, CA 91761 91%942$100,578$635,000$385 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
Highland, CA 92346 91%941$85,163$499,200$331 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Oregon City, OR 97045 91%129$103,573$587,700$313 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97078 91%123$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Cornelius, OR 97113 91%120$96,859$465,400$275 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Bridgewater, MA 02324 90%2,506$112,726$533,600$318 Very close on everything we compare
Molalla, OR 97038 90%144$89,564$483,500$314 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Dracut, MA 01826 89%2,469$114,196$473,800$353 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 89%2,704$93,603$495,000$298 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Arvada, CO 80003 89%1,000$91,464$534,700$265 Very close on everything we compare
Lodi, CA 95242 89%629$104,721$567,100$326 8 min shorter commute
Antelope, CA 95843 89%588$98,274$489,700$313 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Attleboro, MA 02703 88%2,492$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Patchogue, NY 11772 88%2,451$105,245$474,800$400 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · older homes
Fillmore, CA 93015 88%902$92,777$625,400$401 pricier homes ($69K 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.