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 Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Aliso Viejo: median income $137,639, home value $903,200, $685/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bothell, WA 98011 91%1,007$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Kirkland, WA 98034 83%1,005$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($43K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Issaquah, WA 98029 80%992$170,759$1,063,200$525 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($160K more) · smaller
Issaquah, WA 98027 79%988$153,301$996,600$507 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Falls Church, VA 22043 77%2,269$145,881$881,600$456 smaller · older homes
Fairfax, VA 22030 76%2,262$139,831$740,400$347 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Fairfax, VA 22033 74%2,259$143,454$648,800$355 cheaper homes ($254K less)
Charlotte, NC 28211 74%2,096$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller · older homes
Redmond, WA 98052 74%1,001$163,460$1,180,600$620 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($277K more) · larger
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 73%2,179$111,907$755,100$472 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($148K less) · more single-family homes
Bothell, WA 98012 72%1,013$146,144$876,600$437 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Kenmore, WA 98028 71%1,008$139,764$920,800$474 smaller · more single-family homes
Renton, WA 98056 71%991$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98106 71%995$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($197K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Mukilteo, WA 98275 71%1,020$132,861$884,900$418 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Morristown, NJ 07960 70%2,406$160,334$735,600$476 cheaper homes ($168K less) · older homes
Rockville, MD 20850 70%2,270$125,950$714,400$331 cheaper homes ($189K less) · 5 min longer commute · more walkable
Bellevue, WA 98005 70%998$160,849$1,519,500$613 pricier homes ($616K more) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98116 70%998$126,151$973,400$612 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Florham Park, NJ 07932 69%2,411$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · older residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 69%2,347$100,697$613,600$349 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($290K less)
Alpharetta, GA 30009 69%1,909$126,510$640,500$317 cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30342 69%1,907$124,111$829,400$318 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · younger residents
Miami, FL 33133 69%2,302$103,420$1,022,400$923 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($119K more) · more walkable
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 69%335$97,177$698,200$400 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($205K less) · 6 min shorter commute

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.