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 Oceanside, CA 92056

Oceanside: median income $106,272, home value $773,200, $555/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 91%705$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 90%2,609$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($101K more) · older homes
Mililani, HI 96789 90%2,610$127,066$920,400$602 pricier homes ($147K more)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 90%1,042$88,958$759,900$437 Very close on everything we compare
Lynnwood, WA 98037 90%1,045$107,281$767,300$393 smaller
Everett, WA 98208 90%1,047$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Aiea, HI 96701 89%2,607$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($168K more) · older residents
Renton, WA 98056 89%1,021$113,688$797,300$467 more renters
Renton, WA 98058 87%1,016$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Miami, FL 33176 86%2,270$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Kapolei, HI 96707 86%2,618$119,940$808,300$598 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Waipahu, HI 96797 86%2,612$114,654$826,300$635 pricier homes ($53K more)
Jupiter, FL 33458 85%2,252$109,729$604,500$391 cheaper homes ($169K less)
Kent, WA 98031 85%1,014$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Seattle, WA 98106 84%1,025$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Edmonds, WA 98026 83%1,045$133,638$821,700$450 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($49K more)
Springfield, VA 22150 82%2,256$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 82%2,261$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Carbondale, CO 81623 82%700$109,661$913,300$681 pricier homes ($140K more) · smaller
Federal Way, WA 98023 82%1,011$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Everett, WA 98203 82%1,051$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($165K less) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06851 81%2,450$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller · older homes
Freehold, NJ 07728 81%2,407$114,072$505,400$342 cheaper homes ($268K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 81%1,023$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · older homes
Suffern, NY 10901 80%2,413$108,041$542,000$370 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller · 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.