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 Forest, CA 92630

Lake Forest: median income $125,853, home value $910,300, $637/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mililani, HI 96789 90%2,591$127,066$920,400$602 5 min longer commute
Kirkland, WA 98034 89%1,000$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($36K more)
Aiea, HI 96701 86%2,589$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · older residents
Edmonds, WA 98026 85%1,010$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98106 84%990$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller
Renton, WA 98056 83%986$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Woburn, MA 01801 82%2,570$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($237K less) · smaller · more renters
Seattle, WA 98118 82%989$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Seattle, WA 98155 82%1,004$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Kaneohe, HI 96744 81%2,581$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($130K more) · more single-family homes
Pearl City, HI 96782 81%2,590$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96816 80%2,584$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($259K more) · older residents · older homes
Bothell, WA 98011 80%1,003$131,667$933,000$486 smaller · newer homes
Lynnwood, WA 98037 80%1,009$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22042 79%2,266$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($195K less) · smaller · older homes
Miami, FL 33156 79%2,298$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($210K more) · smaller
Waipahu, HI 96797 79%2,593$114,654$826,300$635 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 6 min longer commute
Mukilteo, WA 98275 79%1,015$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Waltham, MA 02451 78%2,566$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller · older homes
Annandale, VA 22003 78%2,265$138,794$732,400$338 cheaper homes ($178K less) · older homes
Kailua, HI 96734 78%2,577$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($457K more)
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 78%1,007$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($243K less) · smaller
Boca Raton, FL 33486 77%2,291$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($246K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85018 77%328$93,885$862,000$517 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98126 77%991$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · older homes

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.