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 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

Glenwood Springs: median income $109,129, home value $798,900, $438/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cotati, CA 94931 93%830$101,994$820,000$454 smaller
Lynnwood, WA 98037 93%940$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Valencia, CA 91355 92%713$115,640$806,200$472 larger
Vista, CA 92081 92%705$105,379$838,600$519 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
El Cajon, CA 92019 91%709$101,973$801,400$520 larger
Escondido, CA 92026 91%699$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Oceanside, CA 92056 91%705$106,272$773,200$555 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Steilacoom, WA 98388 90%928$100,851$655,000$377 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller
University Place, WA 98467 90%929$91,354$623,800$326 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Escondido, CA 92029 89%703$124,726$985,500$497 pricier homes ($187K more)
Buellton, CA 93427 89%785$102,857$867,500$567 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Benicia, CA 94510 89%804$121,204$810,000$431 larger · older residents
Renton, WA 98056 89%924$113,688$797,300$467 larger
San Dimas, CA 91773 88%690$105,338$800,700$515 larger
Spring Valley, CA 91978 88%713$113,170$637,200$504 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller
Rocklin, CA 95677 88%746$105,713$654,200$349 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger
Oceanside, CA 92057 87%704$108,814$743,200$477 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
San Marcos, CA 92069 87%703$96,771$800,700$493 larger
Ventura, CA 93004 87%747$114,012$800,900$505 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Oxnard, CA 93035 87%753$106,611$801,600$598 larger · older residents
Winters, CA 95694 87%788$109,696$658,400$360 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98031 87%920$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($187K less) · larger
Lynnwood, WA 98036 87%939$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Renton, WA 98058 87%919$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger
Springfield, VA 22150 86%1,608$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($163K less) · 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.