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 98375

Puyallup: median income $117,074, home value $522,100, $263/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Manteca, CA 95337 96%647$117,137$645,200$281 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger
Johnstown, CO 80534 91%984$129,024$553,300$221 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Palmdale, CA 93551 91%890$119,801$585,100$264 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Sandy, OR 97055 91%119$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · older residents
Stafford, VA 22556 90%2,315$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Lake Elsinore, CA 92532 90%963$122,312$610,900$267 pricier homes ($89K more) · 7 min longer commute
Moreno Valley, CA 92555 90%948$121,425$587,300$281 pricier homes ($65K more) · 6 min longer commute
Galt, CA 95632 89%613$102,239$522,200$312 Very close on everything we compare
Surprise, AZ 85388 88%1,065$112,164$459,900$221 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more single-family homes
Murrieta, CA 92562 88%972$114,266$663,600$318 pricier homes ($142K more) · larger
Wildomar, CA 92595 88%970$106,047$562,000$287 pricier homes ($40K more)
Sacramento, CA 95829 88%599$105,395$621,100$292 pricier homes ($99K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 87%2,320$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · older residents
Stephens City, VA 22655 87%2,263$109,169$388,400$202 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Culpeper, VA 22701 87%2,291$97,892$396,800$246 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Ocoee, FL 34761 87%2,527$96,415$401,700$214 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Murrieta, CA 92563 87%973$125,397$645,700$301 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger
Lancaster, CA 93536 87%878$106,903$534,200$263 larger · older homes
Las Vegas, NV 89166 86%826$107,846$507,000$250 6 min shorter commute
King George, VA 22485 85%2,340$117,560$428,300$197 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older residents
Navarre, FL 32566 85%2,202$105,551$385,100$223 cheaper homes ($137K less) · older residents
Brighton, CO 80601 85%1,005$105,417$497,700$214 more walkable
Henderson, CO 80640 85%1,003$117,373$497,100$210 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 85%1,073$122,323$547,500$230 pricier homes ($25K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Las Vegas, NV 89178 85%848$108,806$470,600$247 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 7 min shorter 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.