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 92083

Vista: median income $86,974, home value $658,200, $528/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98198 87%1,016$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Kent, WA 98030 86%1,014$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Honolulu, HI 96819 84%2,607$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($296K more) · older residents · older homes
Seattle, WA 98168 82%1,022$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($110K less) · older homes
Long Branch, NJ 07740 80%2,420$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older homes
Wahiawa, HI 96786 80%2,612$85,554$807,900$511 pricier homes ($150K more) · younger residents · more renters
Auburn, WA 98002 80%1,009$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($237K less)
Kent, WA 98032 80%1,015$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($137K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Federal Way, WA 98003 78%1,011$75,319$476,600$314 cheaper homes ($182K less) · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98148 78%1,019$87,342$607,900$331 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06854 77%2,447$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($198K less) · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 77%2,268$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller · older residents
Renton, WA 98055 77%1,019$97,224$602,800$326 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Milton, WA 98354 77%1,006$96,866$536,800$358 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98409 77%1,006$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($264K less)
Vancouver, WA 98661 77%906$76,913$451,500$289 cheaper homes ($207K less)
Spring Valley, NY 10977 76%2,415$74,451$649,700$403 larger · younger residents
Delray Beach, FL 33444 76%2,264$72,925$464,100$450 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75220 76%1,179$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($158K less) · more renters
Lynnwood, WA 98036 76%1,043$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($102K more) · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98188 76%1,019$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($202K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97236 75%894$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($222K less)
Bremerton, WA 98310 75%1,034$75,878$440,500$286 cheaper homes ($218K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98372 75%1,003$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($68K less) · less walkable
Vancouver, WA 98665 75%910$88,559$476,200$274 cheaper homes ($182K 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.