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 Vista, CA 92081

Vista: median income $105,379, home value $838,600, $519/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 92%705$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Renton, WA 98056 92%1,024$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98037 89%1,047$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 87%1,045$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98106 85%1,028$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($132K less) · more walkable
Silverdale, WA 98383 84%1,041$111,139$596,400$306 cheaper homes ($242K less)
Reno, NV 89523 83%464$99,061$607,300$352 cheaper homes ($231K less)
Tualatin, OR 97062 83%893$105,407$640,300$293 cheaper homes ($198K less)
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 83%1,045$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($172K less) · more walkable · older homes
Tacoma, WA 98466 83%1,011$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($236K less) · older homes
Happy Valley, OR 97086 82%894$102,359$697,400$285 cheaper homes ($141K less)
University Place, WA 98467 82%1,009$91,354$623,800$326 cheaper homes ($215K less) · smaller
Woburn, MA 01801 81%2,563$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($165K less) · older homes
Aiea, HI 96701 81%2,609$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($103K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Pearl City, HI 96782 81%2,611$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Renton, WA 98055 81%1,022$97,224$602,800$326 cheaper homes ($236K less) · younger residents
Everett, WA 98208 81%1,050$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33176 80%2,267$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98108 80%1,028$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($118K less) · more walkable · older homes
Puyallup, WA 98372 80%1,005$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($249K less)
Olympia, WA 98502 80%1,010$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($301K less)
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 79%2,418$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($222K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Springfield, VA 22150 79%2,255$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($203K less)
Golden, CO 80401 79%808$118,039$804,500$350 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Carbondale, CO 81623 79%699$109,661$913,300$681 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller · older residents

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.