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 Escondido, CA 92026

Escondido: median income $104,561, home value $714,300, $468/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Everett, WA 98208 93%1,052$103,705$691,500$388 Very close on everything we compare
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 91%699$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller
Kent, WA 98031 90%1,018$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 90%1,047$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($46K more)
Lynnwood, WA 98037 90%1,050$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · more walkable
Pearl City, HI 96782 88%2,619$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($160K more) · older homes
Federal Way, WA 98023 87%1,016$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($124K less) · 5 min longer commute
Renton, WA 98056 87%1,026$113,688$797,300$467 pricier homes ($83K more) · more walkable
Everett, WA 98203 87%1,056$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more walkable
Miami, FL 33176 86%2,259$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Waipahu, HI 96797 86%2,622$114,654$826,300$635 pricier homes ($112K more)
Renton, WA 98058 86%1,021$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Puyallup, WA 98372 86%1,007$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 85%2,250$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Aiea, HI 96701 85%2,618$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($227K more) · older residents
Oregon City, OR 97045 85%890$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Lakewood, WA 98498 85%1,008$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($208K less) · smaller
Peabody, MA 01960 84%2,566$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($118K less) · older residents · older homes
Amityville, NY 11701 84%2,442$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($215K less) · smaller · older homes
Happy Valley, OR 97086 84%897$102,359$697,400$285 smaller · newer homes
University Place, WA 98467 84%1,012$91,354$623,800$326 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Patchogue, NY 11772 83%2,465$105,245$474,800$400 cheaper homes ($240K less) · older homes
Boca Raton, FL 33428 83%2,250$88,543$466,900$312 cheaper homes ($247K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 83%1,028$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older homes
Puyallup, WA 98371 83%1,008$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller

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.