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 Edmonds, WA 98026

Edmonds: median income $133,638, home value $821,700, $450/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Martinez, CA 94553 97%681$124,130$825,900$473 Very close on everything we compare
Benicia, CA 94510 96%675$121,204$810,000$431 Very close on everything we compare
Newbury Park, CA 91320 94%960$148,991$948,100$507 pricier homes ($126K more)
Orange, CA 92869 93%999$138,204$994,400$645 pricier homes ($173K more)
Simi Valley, CA 93063 93%954$125,098$816,800$480 Very close on everything we compare
Burlington, MA 01803 92%2,471$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Chatsworth, CA 91311 92%958$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($55K more)
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 92%958$119,296$937,000$551 pricier homes ($115K more)
La Mesa, CA 91941 92%1,078$115,381$928,700$525 pricier homes ($107K more)
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 92%1,012$141,045$985,100$674 pricier homes ($163K more)
Anaheim, CA 92807 92%994$138,741$963,200$610 pricier homes ($142K more)
Simi Valley, CA 93065 92%955$120,519$829,000$488 larger
Concord, CA 94521 92%683$125,899$853,200$491 pricier homes ($32K more) · 7 min longer commute
Cypress, CA 90630 91%994$130,154$909,700$602 pricier homes ($88K more)
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 91%960$139,800$1,116,500$566 pricier homes ($295K more)
Escondido, CA 92029 91%1,054$124,726$985,500$497 pricier homes ($164K more) · smaller
Fullerton, CA 92835 91%990$143,817$1,052,500$603 pricier homes ($231K more)
Mililani, HI 96789 91%2,686$127,066$920,400$602 pricier homes ($99K more)
Belmar, NJ 07719 90%2,415$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · older residents
Annandale, VA 22003 90%2,315$138,794$732,400$338 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Novato, CA 94947 90%673$128,766$1,017,600$602 pricier homes ($196K more) · smaller
Fair Oaks, CA 95628 90%637$115,803$651,400$340 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 89%1,012$131,175$1,037,300$636 pricier homes ($216K more)
Ventura, CA 93004 89%951$114,012$800,900$505 Very close on everything we compare
Danvers, MA 01923 88%2,481$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($178K less) · 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.