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 Petaluma, CA 94954

Petaluma: median income $113,527, home value $840,500, $514/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mililani, HI 96789 86%2,397$127,066$920,400$602 pricier homes ($80K more)
Edmonds, WA 98026 84%662$133,638$821,700$450 Very close on everything we compare
Lynnwood, WA 98037 84%663$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($73K less) · younger residents
Renton, WA 98056 84%640$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents · more renters
Pearl City, HI 96782 83%2,396$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($34K more) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Waipahu, HI 96797 82%2,399$114,654$826,300$635 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Lynnwood, WA 98036 82%660$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($81K less) · younger residents
Everett, WA 98203 82%670$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($232K less)
Tacoma, WA 98407 82%624$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($184K less) · smaller · older homes
Aiea, HI 96701 81%2,395$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($101K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Kaneohe, HI 96744 81%2,388$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($199K more) · larger · older homes
Springfield, VA 22150 80%2,430$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($205K less)
Kent, WA 98031 80%632$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($229K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98146 80%639$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($161K less) · younger residents · older homes
Everett, WA 98208 80%667$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · younger residents
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 79%826$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · younger residents
Federal Way, WA 98023 79%626$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($251K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98166 79%636$114,969$824,400$420 smaller · older homes
Renton, WA 98058 78%636$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($165K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98118 77%642$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · older homes
Saugus, MA 01906 76%2,691$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($237K less) · older homes
Miami, FL 33176 76%2,600$86,354$638,900$426 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($202K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Renton, WA 98059 76%640$138,654$872,000$451 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98106 76%642$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($134K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Belmar, NJ 07719 75%2,570$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($140K less) · 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.