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 Watsonville, CA 95076

Watsonville: median income $91,099, home value $808,900, $575/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honolulu, HI 96819 84%2,411$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($146K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98168 80%731$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($261K less) · smaller
Waipahu, HI 96797 78%2,416$114,654$826,300$635 older residents
Pearl City, HI 96782 76%2,413$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98198 76%725$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($219K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Everett, WA 98208 76%759$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($117K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Kent, WA 98031 74%724$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($197K less) · smaller
Lynnwood, WA 98036 74%753$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98203 73%763$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98108 72%735$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98146 72%732$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33024 70%2,537$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($400K less)
Miami, FL 33157 70%2,546$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($262K less) · 8 min longer commute
Kahului, HI 96732 70%2,356$101,739$864,300$640 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · older residents
Kent, WA 98030 70%724$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($227K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Federal Way, WA 98023 69%719$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($219K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Lynnwood, WA 98037 69%756$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Marysville, WA 98270 69%771$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($229K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Bremerton, WA 98312 69%738$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($336K less) · smaller
Lakewood, WA 98498 69%709$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($303K less) · smaller
Peabody, MA 01960 68%2,687$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($212K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33176 68%2,543$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 68%2,539$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($386K less) · smaller
Brockton, MA 02302 67%2,690$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($384K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Beaverton, OR 97078 67%593$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($330K less) · smaller

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.