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 Cotati, CA 94931

Cotati: median income $101,994, home value $820,000, $454/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 93%830$109,129$798,900$438 larger
Lynnwood, WA 98037 91%658$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Steilacoom, WA 98388 90%611$100,851$655,000$377 cheaper homes ($165K less)
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 88%654$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger
Renton, WA 98056 87%635$113,688$797,300$467 larger
Seattle, WA 98108 87%637$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · older homes
University Place, WA 98467 87%613$91,354$623,800$326 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
Lynnwood, WA 98036 86%655$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98146 84%634$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · older homes
Seattle, WA 98106 83%636$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98466 83%615$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger
Springfield, VA 22150 82%2,434$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($184K less) · larger
Everett, WA 98203 82%665$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($211K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98148 81%630$87,342$607,900$331 cheaper homes ($212K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Milton, WA 98354 81%617$96,866$536,800$358 cheaper homes ($283K less)
Weymouth, MA 02188 80%2,699$107,335$594,000$396 cheaper homes ($226K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Hauula, HI 96717 80%2,382$102,978$875,000$625 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Pearl City, HI 96782 80%2,393$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Kent, WA 98031 80%627$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($208K less) · larger
Renton, WA 98055 79%632$97,224$602,800$326 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger · younger residents
Sumner, WA 98390 79%614$97,795$510,000$341 cheaper homes ($310K less) · less walkable
Garnerville, NY 10923 78%2,561$100,469$471,400$332 cheaper homes ($349K less) · less walkable
Miami, FL 33176 78%2,605$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger
Aiea, HI 96701 78%2,393$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · older residents
Beaverton, OR 97008 78%493$96,116$578,100$338 cheaper homes ($242K less) · larger

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.