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 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

Rancho Santa Margarita: median income $152,528, home value $906,100, $637/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Issaquah, WA 98027 85%984$153,301$996,600$507 pricier homes ($91K more)
Bothell, WA 98011 84%1,003$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($27K more)
Mililani, HI 96789 83%2,597$127,066$920,400$602 lower income ($25K less)
Kenmore, WA 98028 82%1,004$139,764$920,800$474 smaller · more single-family homes
Kirkland, WA 98034 82%1,001$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($40K more) · older homes
Mukilteo, WA 98275 82%1,016$132,861$884,900$418 smaller
Bothell, WA 98012 80%1,009$146,144$876,600$437 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Renton, WA 98059 77%986$138,654$872,000$451 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Reno, NV 89511 76%416$124,130$916,600$484 lower income ($28K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Edmonds, WA 98026 76%1,010$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($84K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
North Andover, MA 01845 75%2,567$140,670$732,900$367 cheaper homes ($173K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Centreville, VA 20120 75%2,246$152,563$648,700$317 cheaper homes ($257K less)
Carbondale, CO 81623 75%694$109,661$913,300$681 lower income ($43K less) · smaller · older residents
Kapolei, HI 96707 75%2,604$119,940$808,300$598 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($98K less) · 7 min longer commute
Issaquah, WA 98029 75%988$170,759$1,063,200$525 pricier homes ($157K more)
Jupiter, FL 33458 74%2,271$109,729$604,500$391 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($302K less)
Seattle, WA 98106 74%991$124,212$706,600$448 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22043 73%2,261$145,881$881,600$456 smaller · older homes
Golden, CO 80401 73%804$118,039$804,500$350 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($102K less) · older homes
Silverthorne, CO 80498 73%757$105,897$824,200$614 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 73%699$109,129$798,900$438 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller
Aiea, HI 96701 73%2,594$111,173$941,600$542 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Renton, WA 98056 73%987$113,688$797,300$467 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($109K less) · more renters
Woodinville, WA 98072 73%1,003$175,805$1,122,200$544 pricier homes ($216K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 72%2,403$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · older residents

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.