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 Ripon, CA 95366

Ripon: median income $112,097, home value $707,800, $373/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nipomo, CA 93444 93%191$110,867$816,000$507 pricier homes ($108K more)
Lodi, CA 95242 92%29$104,721$567,100$326 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Winters, CA 95694 92%71$109,696$658,400$360 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Paso Robles, CA 93446 91%148$97,943$707,500$431 larger
Dixon, CA 95620 91%60$103,054$619,800$339 cheaper homes ($88K less) · younger residents
Washougal, WA 98671 91%546$111,545$586,100$296 cheaper homes ($122K less)
American Canyon, CA 94503 90%68$121,088$697,400$385 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, WA 98001 90%663$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Vacaville, CA 95688 89%64$118,186$687,100$379 larger
Atascadero, CA 93422 88%159$91,780$737,600$438 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Salinas, CA 93907 88%75$104,942$750,100$484 pricier homes ($42K more)
Canby, OR 97013 88%525$101,832$562,300$317 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Lynden, WA 98264 87%776$103,638$609,100$341 cheaper homes ($99K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Vancouver, WA 98686 87%556$107,801$596,700$294 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Alpine, CA 91901 86%420$114,167$852,000$456 pricier homes ($144K more) · 6 min longer commute
Marysville, WA 98270 86%715$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Orangevale, CA 95662 85%65$96,689$558,300$352 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95829 85%51$105,395$621,100$292 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · newer homes
Oregon City, OR 97045 85%530$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Silverton, OR 97381 85%507$89,383$539,600$313 cheaper homes ($168K less)
Marysville, WA 98271 85%717$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger
Battle Ground, WA 98604 85%560$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · more homeowners
Mira Loma, CA 91752 84%329$115,177$689,600$336 larger · 8 min longer commute
Santa Maria, CA 93455 84%206$110,661$610,300$416 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Stockton, CA 95212 84%21$111,720$538,500$323 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger · newer homes

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.

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