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 Bothell, WA 98011

Bothell: median income $131,667, home value $933,000, $486/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 91%1,007$137,639$903,200$685 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Tustin, CA 92782 90%995$146,080$1,149,200$700 pricier homes ($216K more)
Charlotte, NC 28211 89%2,281$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Carlsbad, CA 92010 88%1,040$129,926$1,103,300$639 pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller
Fairfax, VA 22030 87%2,305$139,831$740,400$347 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger
Falls Church, VA 22043 87%2,309$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older homes
San Diego, CA 92128 87%1,053$131,077$927,100$597 larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92126 85%1,059$126,913$865,400$643 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Davis, CA 95618 85%636$115,591$867,400$483 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 84%1,003$152,528$906,100$637 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 83%2,422$111,907$755,100$472 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30009 83%2,165$126,510$640,500$317 cheaper homes ($293K less)
Lafayette, CO 80026 83%1,004$120,187$705,600$310 cheaper homes ($227K less)
Lone Tree, CO 80124 83%1,031$129,858$773,900$272 cheaper homes ($159K less)
San Diego, CA 92124 83%1,066$120,201$918,500$578 younger residents · older homes
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 83%1,006$133,194$1,063,300$666 pricier homes ($130K more) · older homes
San Jose, CA 95133 83%717$142,170$1,082,400$673 pricier homes ($149K more)
Fairfax, VA 22033 82%2,301$143,454$648,800$355 cheaper homes ($284K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Brea, CA 92821 82%981$123,629$903,200$593 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
San Jose, CA 95136 82%724$142,433$1,144,000$706 pricier homes ($211K more) · larger · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30342 81%2,170$124,111$829,400$318 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Franklin, TN 37067 81%1,978$111,759$756,300$313 cheaper homes ($177K less)
Dallas, TX 75230 81%1,674$110,956$931,500$359 older residents · older homes
Houston, TX 77024 81%1,883$136,149$1,127,500$414 pricier homes ($195K more) · older residents · older homes
San Marcos, CA 92078 81%1,044$120,268$942,300$530 larger · more homeowners

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.