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 Brentwood, CA 94513

Brentwood: median income $142,223, home value $837,800, $346/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maple Valley, WA 98038 90%653$152,261$776,900$377 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 87%697$123,898$653,100$375 cheaper homes ($185K less)
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 87%637$135,037$626,800$317 cheaper homes ($211K less) · less walkable
Hollywood, FL 33029 86%2,533$146,237$619,900$331 cheaper homes ($218K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98042 85%652$127,552$658,500$339 cheaper homes ($179K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Monroe, WA 98272 84%686$122,352$713,300$396 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller
Snohomish, WA 98290 83%689$132,973$784,200$407 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · older homes
Miami, FL 33185 82%2,540$114,206$562,700$343 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($275K less) · smaller
Queen Creek, AZ 85142 78%651$129,367$593,500$262 cheaper homes ($244K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98422 78%648$118,604$663,800$358 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Loxahatchee, FL 33470 77%2,515$122,163$584,500$301 cheaper homes ($253K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33187 76%2,541$115,206$574,300$352 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($264K less) · smaller
Odessa, FL 33556 76%2,345$149,722$625,200$266 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Brighton, CO 80602 76%911$151,737$667,000$213 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Auburn, WA 98092 76%647$122,300$635,900$324 cheaper homes ($202K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Snohomish, WA 98296 76%686$177,583$927,700$406 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller
Edgewater, MD 21037 74%2,419$145,787$560,300$317 cheaper homes ($278K less) · smaller · older homes
Peoria, AZ 85383 73%604$145,546$661,400$267 cheaper homes ($176K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Lithia, FL 33547 72%2,379$123,258$524,300$221 cheaper homes ($314K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85086 72%606$121,676$598,900$267 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller · older residents
Renton, WA 98059 72%662$138,654$872,000$451 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Stafford, VA 22556 71%2,376$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($352K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Mesa, AZ 85212 71%647$125,902$584,000$259 cheaper homes ($254K less) · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Gig Harbor, WA 98332 71%653$135,330$748,200$399 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · older residents
Puyallup, WA 98374 71%637$112,662$535,300$284 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($303K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.