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 Lakewood, WA 98498

Lakewood: median income $91,664, home value $506,300, $324/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Attleboro, MA 02703 96%2,503$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97078 94%119$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Sayreville, NJ 08872 93%2,408$97,489$447,200$362 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Forest Grove, OR 97116 93%112$92,613$495,800$262 younger residents
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 92%947$83,628$517,600$344 smaller
Milford, MA 01757 91%2,486$96,621$478,100$298 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 7 min longer commute
South Amboy, NJ 08879 91%2,411$92,786$389,800$360 cheaper homes ($117K less) · older homes
Patchogue, NY 11772 91%2,462$105,245$474,800$400 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 91%2,713$93,603$495,000$298 more homeowners
Arvada, CO 80003 91%1,009$91,464$534,700$265 pricier homes ($28K more)
Denver, CO 80232 91%1,013$96,217$521,600$251 Very close on everything we compare
Citrus Heights, CA 95621 91%588$80,901$432,500$321 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Methuen, MA 01844 90%2,485$113,212$499,800$341 larger
Neptune, NJ 07753 90%2,429$95,712$425,800$371 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Denver, CO 80236 90%1,017$86,115$531,700$240 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 90%594$89,484$491,100$319 larger
Lanham, MD 20706 89%2,340$104,523$429,000$242 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Boca Raton, FL 33428 89%2,703$88,543$466,900$312 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · newer homes
Modesto, CA 95356 89%658$96,886$532,600$278 pricier homes ($26K more)
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 89%588$83,327$485,900$319 larger
Silverton, OR 97381 89%150$89,383$539,600$313 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Haledon, NJ 07508 88%2,400$95,806$473,700$344 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 88%2,411$109,312$486,600$372 6 min longer commute
Parlin, NJ 08859 88%2,410$99,882$445,800$372 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Amityville, NY 11701 88%2,444$117,033$499,500$442 higher income ($25K more)

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.