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 92021

El Cajon: median income $74,013, home value $611,900, $483/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98198 87%1,046$86,239$589,500$361 smaller
Auburn, WA 98002 83%1,039$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller
Taunton, MA 02780 82%2,561$74,471$413,900$326 cheaper homes ($198K less) · older homes
Federal Way, WA 98003 82%1,041$75,319$476,600$314 cheaper homes ($135K less) · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98168 82%1,052$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Long Branch, NJ 07740 81%2,414$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 81%2,247$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($189K less)
Vancouver, WA 98661 81%937$76,913$451,500$289 cheaper homes ($160K less)
Haverhill, MA 01832 80%2,560$83,041$429,000$320 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06854 80%2,442$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller
Spring Valley, NY 10977 80%2,410$74,451$649,700$403 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 80%2,247$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($234K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33169 80%2,249$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($209K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97236 80%925$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98030 80%1,044$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 79%2,248$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller · more walkable
Honolulu, HI 96819 79%2,623$99,848$954,600$477 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($343K more)
Kent, WA 98032 79%1,045$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98188 79%1,049$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($156K less) · smaller · more renters
Hollywood, FL 33024 78%2,245$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($203K less) · more single-family homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33065 78%2,238$74,226$434,100$271 cheaper homes ($178K less)
Lake Worth, FL 33460 78%2,242$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($207K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 78%1,084$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · more walkable
Tacoma, WA 98409 78%1,036$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller
Delray Beach, FL 33444 77%2,244$72,925$464,100$450 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · older residents

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.