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 Brea, CA 92821

Brea: median income $123,629, home value $903,200, $593/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98118 93%968$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Seattle, WA 98106 92%968$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Renton, WA 98056 91%964$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Kirkland, WA 98034 90%979$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($43K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 87%985$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98126 87%969$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · older homes
Woburn, MA 01801 86%2,571$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($230K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Waltham, MA 02451 86%2,567$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22042 84%2,270$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($187K less) · older homes
Lynnwood, WA 98037 84%988$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Mililani, HI 96789 83%2,583$127,066$920,400$602 more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98116 83%971$126,151$973,400$612 pricier homes ($70K more)
Springfield, VA 22150 82%2,270$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($267K less)
Bothell, WA 98011 82%981$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($30K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98125 82%980$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more renters
Seattle, WA 98133 82%982$93,662$770,300$459 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($133K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 82%982$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Beverly, MA 01915 81%2,585$104,918$649,700$475 cheaper homes ($254K less) · older homes
Red Bank, NJ 07701 81%2,429$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($319K less) · smaller · older homes
Aiea, HI 96701 81%2,580$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Edmonds, WA 98026 81%988$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more homeowners
Norwood, MA 02062 80%2,570$107,030$651,700$432 cheaper homes ($252K less) · older homes
Miami, FL 33156 80%2,311$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($217K more) · more homeowners
Stoneham, MA 02180 79%2,574$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Kenmore, WA 98028 79%982$139,764$920,800$474 smaller · less walkable

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.