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 Lemon Grove, CA 91945

Lemon Grove: median income $88,016, home value $704,900, $540/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98168 90%1,056$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Seattle, WA 98198 85%1,050$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Honolulu, HI 96819 84%2,616$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($250K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98108 82%1,060$95,780$720,400$423 Very close on everything we compare
Seattle, WA 98146 80%1,058$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Hempstead, NY 11550 79%2,441$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($240K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kent, WA 98030 78%1,048$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($123K less) · newer homes
Carteret, NJ 07008 76%2,409$97,021$406,000$355 cheaper homes ($299K less)
Linden, NJ 07036 76%2,408$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($287K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 76%2,253$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($282K less) · larger
Lynnwood, WA 98036 76%1,077$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · newer homes
Everett, WA 98203 76%1,085$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($96K less) · more homeowners
Lakewood, WA 98498 76%1,038$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($199K less)
Brockton, MA 02302 75%2,575$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($280K less) · more homeowners
Dover, NJ 07801 75%2,392$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($313K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 75%2,254$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($235K less)
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 75%1,076$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Seattle, WA 98178 75%1,056$99,505$660,400$367 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
Everett, WA 98201 75%1,088$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($205K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Glen Cove, NY 11542 74%2,440$93,242$702,400$499 older residents
Hollywood, FL 33024 74%2,251$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($296K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33157 74%2,256$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Pearl City, HI 96782 74%2,619$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($169K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97266 74%928$72,577$445,700$302 cheaper homes ($259K less)
Bremerton, WA 98310 74%1,068$75,878$440,500$286 cheaper homes ($264K less)

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.