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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 Arlington, WA 98223

Arlington: median income $99,681, home value $601,400, $389/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marysville, WA 98271 95%7$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Stanwood, WA 98292 95%12$101,765$654,100$338 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Galt, CA 95632 93%686$102,239$522,200$312 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Marysville, WA 98270 91%8$108,147$579,900$362 Very close on everything we compare
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 91%24$93,006$482,500$357 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98001 89%61$106,791$587,400$342 Very close on everything we compare
Wildomar, CA 92595 88%1,038$106,047$562,000$287 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 5 min longer commute
Monroe, WA 98272 87%24$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($112K more)
Puyallup, WA 98374 87%72$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Yelm, WA 98597 87%90$92,219$447,600$272 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller
Ramona, CA 92065 86%1,082$125,285$800,100$394 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($199K more)
Lancaster, CA 93536 86%948$106,903$534,200$263 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Oakdale, CA 95361 86%722$92,963$516,000$317 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Tacoma, WA 98445 86%74$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Battle Ground, WA 98604 86%166$112,448$589,800$299 Very close on everything we compare
Washougal, WA 98671 86%179$111,545$586,100$296 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Ontario, CA 91761 85%1,005$100,578$635,000$385 pricier homes ($34K more) · younger residents · more walkable
Manteca, CA 95336 85%718$89,172$546,400$318 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Puyallup, WA 98371 85%69$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · older homes
Paso Robles, CA 93446 84%870$97,943$707,500$431 pricier homes ($106K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Enumclaw, WA 98022 84%63$120,406$608,500$352 smaller · older homes
Auburn, WA 98092 84%62$122,300$635,900$324 pricier homes ($35K more)
Spanaway, WA 98387 84%78$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($140K less) · younger residents
Tacoma, WA 98446 84%74$101,938$487,500$285 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller
Rochester, WA 98579 84%104$99,411$463,400$300 cheaper homes ($138K 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.

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