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 Hollister, CA 95023

Hollister: median income $116,314, home value $784,100, $399/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marysville, WA 98270 88%777$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($204K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 87%774$123,898$653,100$375 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Monroe, WA 98272 85%762$122,352$713,300$396 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Auburn, WA 98001 84%725$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($197K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98031 82%731$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($173K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Federal Way, WA 98023 81%726$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($194K less)
Auburn, WA 98092 81%723$122,300$635,900$324 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Puyallup, WA 98374 81%714$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($249K less) · less walkable
Ewa Beach, HI 96706 80%2,439$129,456$830,100$637 pricier homes ($46K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Kent, WA 98042 80%729$127,552$658,500$339 cheaper homes ($126K less) · more homeowners
Arlington, WA 98223 78%785$99,681$601,400$389 cheaper homes ($183K less) · less walkable
Port Orchard, WA 98366 78%743$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($308K less) · smaller
Marysville, WA 98271 77%779$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($246K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Renton, WA 98058 76%734$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($108K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Everett, WA 98208 76%765$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($93K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98371 76%718$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($227K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98375 76%711$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($262K less) · smaller · less walkable
Spanaway, WA 98387 76%710$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($323K less) · less walkable
Stanwood, WA 98292 75%787$101,765$654,100$338 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98422 75%725$118,604$663,800$358 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Waianae, HI 96792 74%2,444$87,509$569,400$441 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($215K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Enumclaw, WA 98022 74%722$120,406$608,500$352 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · older residents
Snohomish, WA 98290 73%765$132,973$784,200$407 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33177 72%2,519$82,682$444,200$383 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($340K less) · older residents
Brighton, CO 80601 72%921$105,417$497,700$214 cheaper homes ($286K less) · 6 min shorter commute

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.