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 Porter Ranch, CA 91326

Porter Ranch: median income $148,281, home value $1,106,000, $537/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kenmore, WA 98028 87%951$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Renton, WA 98059 87%933$138,654$872,000$451 cheaper homes ($234K less) · younger residents
Burlington, MA 01803 86%2,594$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($365K less)
North Bend, WA 98045 86%928$175,765$938,500$494 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($168K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331 85%2,338$142,636$712,000$413 cheaper homes ($394K less) · smaller
Woodinville, WA 98072 85%951$175,805$1,122,200$544 higher income ($28K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Bothell, WA 98021 84%954$183,786$967,700$475 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($138K less) · younger residents
Gig Harbor, WA 98335 84%925$128,592$791,100$401 cheaper homes ($315K less)
Honolulu, HI 96825 83%2,535$153,210$1,088,700$759 more apartments and townhomes
Edmonds, WA 98026 83%958$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($284K less)
Walpole, MA 02081 82%2,593$156,250$687,500$396 cheaper homes ($419K less) · smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 82%2,338$131,216$745,700$351 cheaper homes ($360K less)
Andover, MA 01810 80%2,595$172,606$855,600$412 cheaper homes ($250K less)
North Reading, MA 01864 80%2,599$147,768$710,500$425 cheaper homes ($396K less) · smaller · less walkable
Westwood, NJ 07675 80%2,456$183,154$719,400$453 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($387K less) · older homes
Saint James, NY 11780 80%2,501$144,577$723,200$466 cheaper homes ($383K less) · smaller
Fairfax, VA 22032 80%2,294$178,394$799,200$361 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($307K less)
Miami, FL 33156 80%2,352$137,076$1,120,100$619 more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
West Linn, OR 97068 80%797$151,729$796,400$329 cheaper homes ($310K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Bellevue, WA 98006 80%937$198,150$1,388,500$592 higher income ($50K more) · pricier homes ($283K more)
Seattle, WA 98155 80%952$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($290K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Reading, MA 01867 79%2,598$165,912$809,000$473 cheaper homes ($297K less) · smaller · older homes
Sayville, NY 11782 79%2,505$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($469K less) · smaller · older homes
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 79%947$172,188$1,155,900$553 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents
Mukilteo, WA 98275 79%963$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute

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.