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 92078

San Marcos: median income $120,268, home value $942,300, $530/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jupiter, FL 33458 86%2,246$109,729$604,500$391 cheaper homes ($338K less)
Mililani, HI 96789 86%2,615$127,066$920,400$602 older homes
Mukilteo, WA 98275 85%1,057$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Bothell, WA 98012 84%1,050$146,144$876,600$437 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($66K less) · 5 min longer commute
Renton, WA 98059 84%1,027$138,654$872,000$451 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Reno, NV 89511 83%458$124,130$916,600$484 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
Kapolei, HI 96707 83%2,623$119,940$808,300$598 cheaper homes ($134K less) · 6 min longer commute
Carbondale, CO 81623 82%699$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 81%705$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · older homes
Bothell, WA 98011 81%1,044$131,667$933,000$486 smaller · more renters
Kenmore, WA 98028 81%1,045$139,764$920,800$474 smaller · older homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 80%2,254$131,216$745,700$351 cheaper homes ($197K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 79%2,154$111,907$755,100$472 cheaper homes ($187K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 79%2,252$117,373$573,800$350 cheaper homes ($369K less) · smaller
Franklin, TN 37064 79%1,729$127,771$735,100$361 cheaper homes ($207K less) · more single-family homes
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 78%1,821$107,821$684,700$469 cheaper homes ($258K less) · smaller · older residents
Issaquah, WA 98027 78%1,025$153,301$996,600$507 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Renton, WA 98056 78%1,028$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($145K less) · more renters · more walkable
Windermere, FL 34786 77%2,129$134,214$684,400$308 cheaper homes ($258K less)
Golden, CO 80401 77%807$118,039$804,500$350 cheaper homes ($138K less) · older homes
Draper, UT 84020 77%588$128,910$784,800$253 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Reno, NV 89521 77%454$127,181$667,700$359 cheaper homes ($275K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Happy Valley, OR 97086 77%898$102,359$697,400$285 cheaper homes ($245K less) · smaller
Edmonds, WA 98026 77%1,051$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($121K less) · older homes
Everett, WA 98208 77%1,054$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($251K less)

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.