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 98374

Puyallup: median income $112,662, home value $535,300, $284/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Murrieta, CA 92562 95%974$114,266$663,600$318 pricier homes ($128K more)
Manteca, CA 95337 94%649$117,137$645,200$281 pricier homes ($110K more)
Lancaster, CA 93536 92%880$106,903$534,200$263 Very close on everything we compare
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 91%2,318$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Culpeper, VA 22701 91%2,288$97,892$396,800$246 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Palmdale, CA 93551 91%891$119,801$585,100$264 pricier homes ($50K more) · more single-family homes
Woodbridge, VA 22193 90%2,314$117,337$444,800$264 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Wildomar, CA 92595 90%971$106,047$562,000$287 pricier homes ($27K more)
Galt, CA 95632 90%615$102,239$522,200$312 smaller
Manassas, VA 20111 89%2,305$113,879$476,000$258 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Mira Loma, CA 91752 89%941$115,177$689,600$336 pricier homes ($154K more)
Sandy, OR 97055 89%122$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Stafford, VA 22556 88%2,312$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Ocoee, FL 34761 88%2,526$96,415$401,700$214 cheaper homes ($134K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Murrieta, CA 92563 88%975$125,397$645,700$301 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Temecula, CA 92591 88%979$114,160$690,600$359 pricier homes ($155K more)
Oakdale, CA 95361 87%651$92,963$516,000$317 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgewater, MA 02324 86%2,504$112,726$533,600$318 smaller · older residents
Jackson, NJ 08527 86%2,408$115,487$485,800$299 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more homeowners
Wellington, FL 33414 86%2,674$112,241$578,500$306 pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents
Moreno Valley, CA 92555 86%950$121,425$587,300$281 pricier homes ($52K more) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Wasilla, AK 99654 86%1,460$97,544$363,300$254 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Canton, GA 30114 85%2,143$98,902$451,100$199 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Ontario, CA 91761 85%938$100,578$635,000$385 pricier homes ($100K more)
Lake Elsinore, CA 92532 85%965$122,312$610,900$267 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute

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.