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 Valley Center, CA 92082

Valley Center: median income $126,544, home value $833,600, $416/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Snohomish, WA 98290 95%1,046$132,973$784,200$407 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Enumclaw, WA 98022 90%1,003$120,406$608,500$352 cheaper homes ($225K less)
Monroe, WA 98272 88%1,042$122,352$713,300$396 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Lakeville, MA 02347 87%2,560$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($268K less) · smaller
Manorville, NY 11949 87%2,467$138,864$601,600$339 cheaper homes ($232K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Stanwood, WA 98292 86%1,070$101,765$654,100$338 cheaper homes ($180K less)
Port Orchard, WA 98367 86%1,026$115,482$565,100$294 cheaper homes ($269K less)
Kent, WA 98042 85%1,011$127,552$658,500$339 cheaper homes ($175K less) · larger · more walkable
Gig Harbor, WA 98329 85%1,021$110,316$518,700$356 cheaper homes ($315K less) · smaller
Buckley, WA 98321 84%996$127,411$571,200$296 cheaper homes ($262K less)
Tacoma, WA 98422 84%1,011$118,604$663,800$358 cheaper homes ($170K less) · more walkable
East Bridgewater, MA 02333 83%2,560$133,741$509,200$322 cheaper homes ($324K less) · smaller
Pembroke, MA 02359 83%2,567$146,285$586,500$392 cheaper homes ($247K less) · older homes
Kingston, MA 02364 83%2,571$119,876$610,600$386 cheaper homes ($223K less) · smaller
Raynham, MA 02767 83%2,555$124,105$522,400$332 cheaper homes ($311K less)
Stony Point, NY 10980 83%2,404$126,284$513,700$337 cheaper homes ($320K less) · smaller · older homes
Holbrook, NY 11741 83%2,453$144,346$536,900$403 cheaper homes ($297K less)
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 83%997$135,037$626,800$317 cheaper homes ($207K less) · larger · newer homes
Groveland, MA 01834 82%2,555$141,487$610,900$389 cheaper homes ($223K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33187 82%2,248$115,206$574,300$352 cheaper homes ($259K less) · 6 min longer commute
Hanson, MA 02341 81%2,564$132,250$536,100$337 cheaper homes ($298K less) · smaller · older homes
Pelham, NH 03076 81%2,541$135,956$552,600$312 cheaper homes ($281K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Medford, NY 11763 81%2,457$120,783$464,600$371 cheaper homes ($369K less)
Boring, OR 97009 81%889$106,650$647,500$335 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller · older residents
Halifax, MA 02338 80%2,565$118,556$481,500$347 cheaper homes ($352K less) · smaller

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.