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 Lompoc, CA 93436

Lompoc: median income $80,097, home value $504,000, $389/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 90%956$76,717$492,300$331 smaller
Naples, FL 34116 87%2,366$73,958$430,200$311 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · newer homes
Portland, OR 97236 85%756$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98168 85%892$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · more walkable
Burlington, WA 98233 85%960$87,614$502,100$348 smaller · newer homes
Bremerton, WA 98312 85%900$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Longview, WA 98632 84%805$66,305$379,200$259 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Carson City, NV 89701 83%313$73,184$444,500$299 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Taunton, MA 02780 82%2,685$74,471$413,900$326 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 82%2,455$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more walkable
Beaverton, OR 97078 82%756$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Oak Harbor, WA 98277 82%950$83,253$499,600$317 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Lakewood, WA 98498 82%871$91,664$506,300$324 smaller
Sparks, NV 89434 81%340$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · newer homes
Lebanon, OR 97355 81%694$68,595$371,700$286 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Springfield, OR 97478 81%662$80,086$387,700$305 cheaper homes ($116K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98198 81%885$86,239$589,500$361 pricier homes ($86K more) · more walkable
Puyallup, WA 98372 81%872$98,152$589,900$325 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller · newer homes
Hollywood, FL 33024 80%2,453$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more walkable
Denver, CO 80229 80%925$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more walkable
Dover, NJ 07801 79%2,514$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · more walkable
Mesa, AZ 85203 79%502$73,578$439,100$262 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more walkable
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 78%2,446$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller · more walkable
Woodburn, OR 97071 78%736$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · more walkable
Salem, OR 97317 78%720$84,393$402,800$299 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · more homeowners

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.