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 Vacaville, CA 95688

Vacaville: median income $118,186, home value $687,100, $379/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Auburn, WA 98001 94%617$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Kent, WA 98031 94%622$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Renton, WA 98058 94%626$115,201$676,000$385 Very close on everything we compare
Everett, WA 98208 91%657$103,705$691,500$388 larger
Oregon City, OR 97045 90%481$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Federal Way, WA 98023 90%617$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Everett, WA 98203 90%660$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Marysville, WA 98270 90%669$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Tacoma, WA 98422 89%616$118,604$663,800$358 smaller
Kent, WA 98042 88%621$127,552$658,500$339 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 87%2,573$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($200K less)
Gilbert, AZ 85233 87%667$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($174K less) · newer homes
Puyallup, WA 98371 87%609$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 86%2,669$102,079$484,800$309 cheaper homes ($202K less) · smaller
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 86%2,575$120,573$496,600$337 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller
Bremerton, WA 98311 86%639$108,757$471,800$299 cheaper homes ($215K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Gresham, OR 97080 85%491$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($185K less)
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 85%666$123,898$653,100$375 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Monroe, WA 98272 85%655$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Washougal, WA 98671 85%499$111,545$586,100$296 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · newer homes
Dracut, MA 01826 84%2,638$114,196$473,800$353 cheaper homes ($213K less)
West Babylon, NY 11704 84%2,563$129,195$527,500$459 cheaper homes ($160K less) · older homes
Canby, OR 97013 84%476$101,832$562,300$317 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98092 84%615$122,300$635,900$324 cheaper homes ($51K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98178 84%629$99,505$660,400$367 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older homes

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.