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.

Reset

Towns most like Vacaville, CA 95687

Vacaville: median income $109,566, home value $606,300, $340/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kent, WA 98031 94%625$105,965$611,600$349 smaller
Everett, WA 98208 93%660$103,705$691,500$388 pricier homes ($85K more)
Federal Way, WA 98023 92%620$104,893$589,900$320 5 min longer commute
Gresham, OR 97080 91%493$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Everett, WA 98203 91%663$107,376$608,600$359 smaller
Marysville, WA 98270 90%671$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($26K less) · less walkable
Auburn, WA 98001 88%619$106,791$587,400$342 smaller · less walkable
Vancouver, WA 98682 88%506$99,918$462,700$302 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Oregon City, OR 97045 87%484$103,573$587,700$313 less walkable
Hillsboro, OR 97123 87%497$109,985$538,500$298 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Newberg, OR 97132 87%484$96,493$522,900$310 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Vancouver, WA 98662 87%508$94,303$453,200$282 cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80013 86%925$101,191$474,000$225 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Canby, OR 97013 86%478$101,832$562,300$317 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Arvada, CO 80003 85%910$91,464$534,700$265 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
West Jordan, UT 84088 85%555$105,142$482,500$241 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Beaverton, OR 97078 85%493$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98371 85%612$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · less walkable
Methuen, MA 01844 84%2,643$113,212$499,800$341 cheaper homes ($107K less) · older homes
Bremerton, WA 98312 84%639$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · less walkable
Port Orchard, WA 98366 84%636$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 83%2,550$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
West Jordan, UT 84084 83%555$96,056$459,400$253 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Salem, OR 97303 83%462$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller
Lacey, WA 98503 83%601$89,002$438,100$293 cheaper homes ($168K 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.