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.

Reset

Towns most like Castaic, CA 91384

Castaic: median income $131,689, home value $767,300, $406/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monroe, WA 98272 90%940$122,352$713,300$396 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more walkable
Snohomish, WA 98290 90%944$132,973$784,200$407 larger · older residents
Kent, WA 98042 88%909$127,552$658,500$339 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · more walkable
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 88%894$135,037$626,800$317 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 87%952$123,898$653,100$375 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · more walkable
Pelham, NH 03076 86%2,583$135,956$552,600$312 cheaper homes ($215K less) · smaller · older residents
Battle Ground, WA 98604 85%808$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($178K less)
Buckley, WA 98321 84%893$127,411$571,200$296 cheaper homes ($196K less) · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98422 84%907$118,604$663,800$358 cheaper homes ($104K less) · more walkable
Lakeville, MA 02347 83%2,605$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($201K less) · smaller · older residents
East Bridgewater, MA 02333 82%2,604$133,741$509,200$322 cheaper homes ($258K less) · smaller · older residents
Enumclaw, WA 98022 82%901$120,406$608,500$352 cheaper homes ($159K less) · older residents
Port Orchard, WA 98367 82%921$115,482$565,100$294 cheaper homes ($202K less) · older residents
Howell, NJ 07731 81%2,446$134,056$494,600$353 cheaper homes ($273K less) · larger
Jackson, NJ 08527 81%2,442$115,487$485,800$299 cheaper homes ($282K less) · larger
Farmingville, NY 11738 81%2,503$140,121$484,700$377 cheaper homes ($283K less) · older homes
Medford, NY 11763 81%2,506$120,783$464,600$371 cheaper homes ($303K less) · older homes
Manorville, NY 11949 81%2,516$138,864$601,600$339 cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller · older residents
Stanwood, WA 98292 81%967$101,765$654,100$338 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($113K less) · older residents
Gig Harbor, WA 98329 81%916$110,316$518,700$356 cheaper homes ($249K less) · smaller · older residents
Ridgefield, WA 98642 81%810$120,822$652,400$301 cheaper homes ($115K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Morgan, UT 84050 80%591$131,170$657,500$248 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Damascus, OR 97089 80%782$123,689$633,600$300 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · older residents
Centereach, NY 11720 79%2,501$134,898$518,600$391 cheaper homes ($249K less) · older homes
Holbrook, NY 11741 79%2,502$144,346$536,900$403 cheaper homes ($230K less) · older homes

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.