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 Union City, CA 94587

Union City: median income $133,715, home value $1,104,900, $729/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mililani, HI 96789 90%2,412$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($185K less) · more homeowners
Kaneohe, HI 96744 87%2,403$131,653$1,039,900$690 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more homeowners
Aiea, HI 96701 81%2,411$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Kailua, HI 96734 81%2,400$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($263K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Waipahu, HI 96797 81%2,414$114,654$826,300$635 cheaper homes ($279K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 80%708$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($283K less) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 79%2,412$108,669$874,200$603 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96816 79%2,408$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($64K more) · 9 min shorter commute · older homes
Kirkland, WA 98034 79%700$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($159K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Renton, WA 98056 79%685$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($308K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98118 79%688$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($294K less) · older homes
Miami, FL 33156 78%2,567$137,076$1,120,100$619 smaller
Seattle, WA 98106 76%687$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($398K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98155 75%703$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($289K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Honolulu, HI 96825 74%2,402$153,210$1,088,700$759 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Renton, WA 98059 74%685$138,654$872,000$451 cheaper homes ($233K less) · smaller · newer homes
Ewa Beach, HI 96706 73%2,417$129,456$830,100$637 cheaper homes ($275K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Carbondale, CO 81623 72%811$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller · less walkable
Kapolei, HI 96707 72%2,420$119,940$808,300$598 cheaper homes ($297K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Kenmore, WA 98028 72%702$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($184K less) · smaller
Lynnwood, WA 98037 72%708$107,281$767,300$393 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($338K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22042 71%2,412$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($389K less) · smaller · younger residents
Mukilteo, WA 98275 71%714$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Edmonds, WA 98020 70%706$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98166 70%682$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($281K less) · smaller · older homes

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.