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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 Tacoma, WA 98446

Tacoma: median income $101,938, home value $487,500, $285/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Molalla, OR 97038 92%139$89,564$483,500$314 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98445 92%2$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Marysville, WA 98271 90%67$95,654$538,400$380 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Woodland, WA 98674 90%85$94,245$538,000$285 pricier homes ($51K more)
Culpeper, VA 22701 89%2,293$97,892$396,800$246 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Rifle, CO 81650 89%898$81,025$418,200$310 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Galt, CA 95632 89%615$102,239$522,200$312 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Wheatland, CA 95692 89%561$95,877$471,800$307 smaller
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 89%97$93,006$482,500$357 larger
Sumner, WA 98390 88%9$97,795$510,000$341 Very close on everything we compare
Yelm, WA 98597 88%18$92,219$447,600$272 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Puyallup, WA 98371 87%6$97,242$556,800$323 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · older homes
Rochester, WA 98579 87%38$99,411$463,400$300 more homeowners
Bealeton, VA 22712 86%2,303$103,618$412,900$248 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Dover, FL 33527 86%2,527$80,464$387,000$238 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Belle Chasse, LA 70037 86%2,096$98,983$385,200$191 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Fernley, NV 89408 86%543$89,552$366,500$259 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Dixon, CA 95620 86%601$103,054$619,800$339 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Sandy, OR 97055 86%121$112,323$493,900$274 more homeowners
Cornelius, OR 97113 86%115$96,859$465,400$275 more walkable
Puyallup, WA 98373 86%2$103,796$565,700$280 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · more renters
Wasilla, AK 99654 86%1,458$97,544$363,300$254 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Kennedale, TX 76060 85%1,655$119,156$378,600$180 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Fort Lupton, CO 80621 85%1,001$90,055$463,200$240 more single-family homes · older homes
Oakdale, CA 95361 85%651$92,963$516,000$317 pricier homes ($29K 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.

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