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 Santee, CA 92071

Santee: median income $113,618, home value $728,900, $526/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pearl City, HI 96782 94%2,623$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($145K more) · smaller
Aiea, HI 96701 91%2,621$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($213K more) · smaller · older residents
Everett, WA 98208 90%1,075$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Mililani, HI 96789 89%2,624$127,066$920,400$602 pricier homes ($192K more)
Waipahu, HI 96797 89%2,626$114,654$826,300$635 pricier homes ($97K more)
Everett, WA 98203 89%1,078$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Amityville, NY 11701 88%2,446$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($229K less) · smaller
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 86%709$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Kent, WA 98031 86%1,041$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98037 86%1,072$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Renton, WA 98058 86%1,044$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 5 min longer commute
Methuen, MA 01844 85%2,559$113,212$499,800$341 cheaper homes ($229K less)
Peabody, MA 01960 85%2,570$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($132K less) · older homes
Edmonds, WA 98026 85%1,072$133,638$821,700$450 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98146 85%1,051$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older homes
Kaneohe, HI 96744 84%2,613$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($311K more)
Freehold, NJ 07728 83%2,401$114,072$505,400$342 cheaper homes ($224K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 83%1,070$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($31K more) · more renters
Springfield, VA 22150 82%2,249$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33176 82%2,251$86,354$638,900$426 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($90K less)
Kapolei, HI 96707 82%2,632$119,940$808,300$598 pricier homes ($79K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Oregon City, OR 97045 82%913$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Federal Way, WA 98023 82%1,038$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($139K less) · 6 min longer commute
Renton, WA 98056 82%1,049$113,688$797,300$467 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · more renters
Norwalk, CT 06851 81%2,446$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($142K 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.