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 Lake Elsinore, CA 92532

Lake Elsinore: median income $122,312, home value $610,900, $267/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Puyallup, WA 98375 90%963$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Spotsylvania, VA 22553 86%2,223$135,856$480,200$210 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98374 85%965$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Stafford, VA 22556 84%2,229$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($125K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Lithia, FL 33547 84%2,116$123,258$524,300$221 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 84%1,020$123,898$653,100$375 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 84%963$135,037$626,800$317 larger · 6 min shorter commute
King George, VA 22485 83%2,251$117,560$428,300$197 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Johnstown, CO 80534 83%822$129,024$553,300$221 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Orting, WA 98360 83%960$125,842$505,200$286 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Prince Frederick, MD 20678 82%2,278$125,732$455,100$200 cheaper homes ($156K less) · smaller · older homes
Monroe, WA 98272 81%1,008$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($102K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Spanaway, WA 98387 81%962$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · older homes
Riverview, FL 33579 80%2,109$116,134$415,500$180 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger
San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 80%335$101,477$445,000$231 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Graham, WA 98338 80%957$114,819$509,600$302 cheaper homes ($101K less) · less walkable
Waldorf, MD 20603 79%2,257$137,946$453,700$198 cheaper homes ($157K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33185 79%2,266$114,206$562,700$343 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
Justin, TX 76247 79%1,153$124,383$397,900$184 cheaper homes ($213K less)
Saint Cloud, FL 34771 78%2,160$97,415$454,400$206 cheaper homes ($157K less) · older residents
Surprise, AZ 85388 78%279$112,164$459,900$221 cheaper homes ($151K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Auburn, WA 98092 78%972$122,300$635,900$324 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Fredericksburg, VA 22406 77%2,228$129,167$512,300$205 cheaper homes ($99K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 77%2,228$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Dallas, GA 30132 77%1,857$109,914$363,300$168 cheaper homes ($248K less) · larger

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.