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.

Reset

Towns most like Vista, CA 92084

Vista: median income $98,577, home value $824,400, $470/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lynnwood, WA 98036 90%1,042$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98037 90%1,044$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98208 90%1,047$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Kent, WA 98031 89%1,013$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($213K less)
Seattle, WA 98198 88%1,015$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($235K less)
Honolulu, HI 96819 86%2,609$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($130K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98108 86%1,025$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98203 86%1,050$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($216K less)
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 85%702$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 85%2,612$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($50K more) · older residents
Waipahu, HI 96797 85%2,615$114,654$826,300$635 older residents
Federal Way, WA 98023 85%1,010$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($235K less)
Renton, WA 98056 85%1,021$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 84%1,023$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · older homes
Miami, FL 33176 83%2,266$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($186K less) · older residents
Kent, WA 98030 82%1,013$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($242K less)
Seattle, WA 98168 82%1,021$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($276K less) · older homes
Lakewood, WA 98498 82%1,003$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($318K less) · smaller
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 81%1,042$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98372 81%1,002$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($235K less) · smaller · less walkable
Renton, WA 98058 80%1,016$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($148K less) · more homeowners
Puyallup, WA 98371 80%1,002$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($268K less) · smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 79%2,257$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($248K less)
Beaverton, OR 97078 79%896$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($346K less) · smaller
Newberg, OR 97132 79%890$96,493$522,900$310 cheaper homes ($302K 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.