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 San Marcos, CA 92069

San Marcos: median income $96,771, home value $800,700, $493/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lynnwood, WA 98036 90%1,047$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98037 89%1,050$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Renton, WA 98056 88%1,026$113,688$797,300$467 Very close on everything we compare
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 87%703$109,129$798,900$438 smaller
Renton, WA 98055 86%1,024$97,224$602,800$326 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98208 85%1,052$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($109K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33176 84%2,263$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($162K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98198 84%1,021$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($211K less)
Puyallup, WA 98372 84%1,008$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96819 83%2,611$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($154K more) · older homes
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 82%1,047$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · more walkable
Lynnwood, WA 98087 82%1,051$106,693$676,400$396 cheaper homes ($124K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98466 82%1,013$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller
Happy Valley, OR 97086 81%896$102,359$697,400$285 cheaper homes ($103K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98106 81%1,030$124,212$706,600$448 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
University Place, WA 98467 81%1,012$91,354$623,800$326 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller
Woburn, MA 01801 80%2,560$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($127K less) · older homes
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 80%2,414$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($184K less) · older homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 80%2,254$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($224K less)
Beaverton, OR 97003 80%907$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($322K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98030 80%1,019$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($218K less) · more walkable
Kent, WA 98031 80%1,019$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($189K less) · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98108 80%1,030$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · more walkable
Silverdale, WA 98383 80%1,044$111,139$596,400$306 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller · older residents
Pearl City, HI 96782 79%2,615$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($74K more) · older residents · more homeowners

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.