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 Puyallup, WA 98372

Puyallup: median income $98,152, home value $589,900, $325/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beaverton, OR 97078 89%124$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Beaverton, OR 97003 88%120$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($112K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Sayreville, NJ 08872 87%2,395$97,489$447,200$362 cheaper homes ($143K less) · older homes
Newhall, CA 91321 87%907$91,092$691,600$413 pricier homes ($102K more)
Sparks, NV 89434 86%544$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($133K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Escondido, CA 92026 86%1,007$104,561$714,300$468 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 86%606$93,615$630,900$479 pricier homes ($41K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 86%590$83,327$485,900$319 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · more walkable
Dixon, CA 95620 86%606$103,054$619,800$339 pricier homes ($30K more) · more single-family homes
Marlborough, MA 01752 85%2,466$91,968$513,100$303 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · older homes
Denver, CO 80234 85%997$92,563$530,300$237 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more walkable
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 85%603$98,191$693,000$446 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Forest Grove, OR 97116 85%119$92,613$495,800$262 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more homeowners
Milford, NH 03055 84%2,447$97,768$398,800$268 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Budd Lake, NJ 07828 84%2,363$103,320$457,700$325 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · older homes
Boca Raton, FL 33428 84%2,692$88,543$466,900$312 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · more homeowners
San Marcos, CA 92069 84%1,008$96,771$800,700$493 pricier homes ($211K more) · larger
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 84%946$83,628$517,600$344 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Jessup, MD 20794 83%2,323$116,406$426,100$248 cheaper homes ($164K less) · smaller
Mckinney, TX 75069 83%1,652$85,327$432,600$242 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger · newer homes
Corona, CA 92879 83%953$92,229$616,300$410 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more walkable
Sacramento, CA 95833 83%595$97,792$464,400$302 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · more walkable
Happy Valley, OR 97086 83%122$102,359$697,400$285 pricier homes ($108K more)
Derry, NH 03038 82%2,462$108,322$430,500$315 cheaper homes ($159K less) · more homeowners
Avenel, NJ 07001 82%2,394$101,670$401,000$429 cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller

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.