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 98012

Bothell: median income $146,144, home value $876,600, $437/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chula Vista, CA 91915 91%1,086$139,503$781,500$456 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Folsom, CA 95630 88%636$139,642$755,200$382 cheaper homes ($121K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Valencia, CA 91354 86%945$156,173$856,500$428 smaller
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 86%975$143,265$895,000$416 smaller
Chula Vista, CA 91913 86%1,084$129,337$812,200$458 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Rocklin, CA 95765 85%625$138,090$732,500$323 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller
San Marcos, CA 92078 84%1,050$120,268$942,300$530 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($66K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381 83%948$158,504$1,058,400$410 pricier homes ($182K more) · smaller
North Andover, MA 01845 82%2,464$140,670$732,900$367 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller · older homes
Lorton, VA 22079 81%2,315$148,134$637,600$316 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Windermere, FL 34786 81%2,540$134,214$684,400$308 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 80%2,702$131,216$745,700$351 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller · older residents
Franklin, TN 37064 80%1,972$127,771$735,100$361 cheaper homes ($142K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Chino Hills, CA 91709 80%985$126,350$875,600$506 Very close on everything we compare
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 80%1,009$152,528$906,100$637 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Morgan Hill, CA 95037 80%740$163,182$1,243,900$634 pricier homes ($367K more)
Herndon, VA 20170 79%2,297$159,466$647,200$326 cheaper homes ($229K less) · smaller · older homes
Fairfax, VA 22030 79%2,304$139,831$740,400$347 cheaper homes ($136K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Carlsbad, CA 92010 79%1,046$129,926$1,103,300$639 pricier homes ($227K more) · smaller
Portland, OR 97229 79%161$161,570$782,100$309 cheaper homes ($95K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Centreville, VA 20120 78%2,297$152,563$648,700$317 cheaper homes ($228K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Leesburg, VA 20176 78%2,282$168,299$747,100$286 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Draper, UT 84020 78%719$128,910$784,800$253 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Franklin, MA 02038 77%2,469$145,773$611,700$343 cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller · older residents
Pompano Beach, FL 33076 77%2,700$176,641$832,000$351 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($45K 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.