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 El Cajon, CA 92020

El Cajon: median income $76,032, home value $813,100, $522/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honolulu, HI 96819 87%2,620$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($142K more)
Long Branch, NJ 07740 86%2,417$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($234K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Honolulu, HI 96817 85%2,620$75,476$916,100$590 pricier homes ($103K more) · older residents
Wahiawa, HI 96786 83%2,625$85,554$807,900$511 younger residents · more renters
Seattle, WA 98198 81%1,047$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($224K less) · 6 min longer commute
Everett, WA 98201 80%1,085$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($313K less) · smaller · older homes
Norwalk, CT 06854 79%2,445$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($353K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80214 79%818$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($254K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33138 78%2,255$75,051$784,700$560 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75220 78%1,165$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($313K less) · younger residents · more renters
Miami, FL 33166 77%2,250$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($283K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98168 77%1,053$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98188 77%1,050$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($357K less) · smaller
Framingham, MA 01702 76%2,547$82,496$583,000$340 cheaper homes ($230K less) · 6 min longer commute
Spring Valley, NY 10977 76%2,413$74,451$649,700$403 cheaper homes ($163K less) · younger residents
Honolulu, HI 96818 76%2,623$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($145K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Vancouver, WA 98661 76%937$76,913$451,500$289 cheaper homes ($362K less)
Houston, TX 77055 75%1,282$74,369$624,200$278 cheaper homes ($189K less)
Denver, CO 80226 75%815$82,300$568,300$267 cheaper homes ($245K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98032 75%1,046$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($292K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 74%2,414$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 74%2,250$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($343K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Delray Beach, FL 33444 74%2,247$72,925$464,100$450 cheaper homes ($349K less) · smaller
Beaverton, OR 97005 74%931$78,239$504,300$299 cheaper homes ($309K less) · smaller
Federal Way, WA 98003 74%1,042$75,319$476,600$314 cheaper homes ($337K less) · 7 min longer 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.