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 Stanwood, WA 98292

Stanwood: median income $101,765, home value $654,100, $338/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, WA 98223 95%12$99,681$601,400$389 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Galt, CA 95632 93%688$102,239$522,200$312 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Enumclaw, WA 98022 92%67$120,406$608,500$352 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Port Orchard, WA 98367 92%52$115,482$565,100$294 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Ramona, CA 92065 91%1,087$125,285$800,100$394 pricier homes ($146K more)
Granite Falls, WA 98252 91%22$98,370$520,700$375 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Monroe, WA 98272 90%31$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($59K more)
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 89%24$93,006$482,500$357 cheaper homes ($172K less)
La Center, WA 98629 89%161$106,779$611,200$278 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Alpine, CA 91901 88%1,102$114,167$852,000$456 pricier homes ($198K more) · smaller
Marysville, WA 98271 88%11$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($116K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Yelm, WA 98597 88%89$92,219$447,600$272 cheaper homes ($207K less) · younger residents
Battle Ground, WA 98604 88%167$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Silt, CO 81652 87%945$101,038$530,000$310 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Wildomar, CA 92595 87%1,043$106,047$562,000$287 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Auburn, WA 98001 87%62$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Gig Harbor, WA 98329 87%59$110,316$518,700$356 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Graham, WA 98338 87%81$114,819$509,600$302 cheaper homes ($145K less) · 5 min longer commute
Belfair, WA 98528 87%59$91,058$430,200$303 cheaper homes ($224K less) · smaller
Washougal, WA 98671 87%180$111,545$586,100$296 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Valley Center, CA 92082 86%1,070$126,544$833,600$416 pricier homes ($180K more)
Palmdale, CA 93551 86%964$119,801$585,100$264 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Colfax, CA 95713 86%634$87,839$487,000$312 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller
Sandy, OR 97055 86%195$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($160K less)
Marysville, WA 98270 86%14$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · more walkable

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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