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 Spanaway, WA 98387

Spanaway: median income $106,872, home value $461,000, $282/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olivehurst, CA 95961 92%553$89,561$435,500$255 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Sun City, CA 92585 91%960$106,667$556,100$285 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller
Galt, CA 95632 91%611$102,239$522,200$312 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Moreno Valley, CA 92555 90%947$121,425$587,300$281 pricier homes ($126K more)
Wildomar, CA 92595 90%969$106,047$562,000$287 pricier homes ($101K more)
Palmdale, CA 93552 90%893$85,954$451,300$286 Very close on everything we compare
Palmdale, CA 93551 89%888$119,801$585,100$264 pricier homes ($124K more)
Manteca, CA 95337 89%645$117,137$645,200$281 pricier homes ($184K more)
Lancaster, CA 93536 88%877$106,903$534,200$263 pricier homes ($73K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Wasilla, AK 99654 88%1,460$97,544$363,300$254 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Culpeper, VA 22701 87%2,295$97,892$396,800$246 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Manteca, CA 95336 87%643$89,172$546,400$318 pricier homes ($85K more)
Patterson, CA 95363 87%666$95,679$470,700$253 smaller
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 86%2,324$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Moreno Valley, CA 92551 86%951$99,970$474,000$320 more walkable
Wasilla, AK 99623 86%1,464$88,799$326,000$267 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Moreno Valley, CA 92557 85%945$94,804$525,100$315 pricier homes ($64K more) · more renters
Oakley, CA 94561 85%628$134,678$659,800$336 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($199K more)
San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 84%1,115$101,477$445,000$231 newer homes
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 84%964$86,862$502,200$310 pricier homes ($41K more) · more walkable
Menifee, CA 92584 84%966$113,767$599,200$283 pricier homes ($138K more) · newer homes
Apple Valley, CA 92307 83%908$77,106$428,400$244 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($33K less)
Oakdale, CA 95361 83%647$92,963$516,000$317 pricier homes ($55K more)
Stephens City, VA 22655 82%2,266$109,169$388,400$202 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Bealeton, VA 22712 82%2,304$103,618$412,900$248 cheaper homes ($48K 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.