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 Steilacoom, WA 98388

Steilacoom: median income $100,851, home value $655,000, $377/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 90%928$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($144K more) · larger
Cotati, CA 94931 90%611$101,994$820,000$454 pricier homes ($165K more)
Plainville, MA 02762 88%2,501$104,106$476,000$337 cheaper homes ($179K less)
Garnerville, NY 10923 88%2,403$100,469$471,400$332 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Winters, CA 95694 87%598$109,696$658,400$360 larger
Middletown, RI 02842 85%2,519$101,948$563,300$392 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Stamford, CT 06907 85%2,428$106,379$590,000$421 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more walkable · older homes
Spring Valley, CA 91978 85%1,040$113,170$637,200$504 Very close on everything we compare
Buellton, CA 93427 85%876$102,857$867,500$567 pricier homes ($213K more) · newer homes
Ayer, MA 01432 84%2,473$101,966$463,800$344 cheaper homes ($191K less) · 6 min longer commute
Amesbury, MA 01913 84%2,494$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bristol, RI 02809 84%2,514$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger · older homes
Springfield, VA 22150 84%2,332$123,114$635,900$335 larger
Norwalk, CT 06851 83%2,432$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78736 83%1,757$93,805$573,100$293 cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer homes
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 83%603$118,299$788,000$455 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger
Rocklin, CA 95677 83%583$105,713$654,200$349 larger
Hudson, MA 01749 82%2,479$103,400$496,800$357 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
North Billerica, MA 01862 82%2,486$138,571$586,200$367 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Weymouth, MA 02188 82%2,512$107,335$594,000$396 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 82%2,395$104,663$428,600$403 cheaper homes ($226K less) · larger · older homes
Pine Brook, NJ 07058 82%2,397$127,805$768,600$382 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($114K more)
Suffern, NY 10901 82%2,399$108,041$542,000$370 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Hatfield, PA 19440 82%2,371$99,408$438,500$258 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger
Benicia, CA 94510 82%629$121,204$810,000$431 pricier homes ($155K more) · larger

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.