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 Issaquah, WA 98027

Issaquah: median income $153,301, home value $996,600, $507/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Diego, CA 92128 91%1,034$131,077$927,100$597 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92129 91%1,036$156,321$1,109,600$659 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Carlsbad, CA 92009 90%1,026$164,182$1,368,100$654 pricier homes ($372K more) · larger
Anaheim, CA 92808 90%968$158,462$1,069,300$627 pricier homes ($73K more)
Carlsbad, CA 92010 89%1,020$129,926$1,103,300$639 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
Oak Park, CA 91377 88%935$163,085$1,036,900$571 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Bedford, MA 01730 87%2,459$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · older homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 87%2,368$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($206K less) · smaller
Westborough, MA 01581 86%2,449$141,944$685,300$394 cheaper homes ($311K less) · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22043 86%2,300$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($115K less) · older homes
Carlsbad, CA 92011 86%1,024$159,235$1,302,600$770 pricier homes ($306K more)
North Andover, MA 01845 85%2,460$140,670$732,900$367 cheaper homes ($264K less) · 5 min longer commute
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 85%934$139,800$1,116,500$566 pricier homes ($120K more) · older residents
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 85%984$152,528$906,100$637 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Morristown, NJ 07960 84%2,363$160,334$735,600$476 cheaper homes ($261K less) · larger · older homes
Austin, TX 78730 84%1,745$158,673$1,014,700$360 smaller
San Diego, CA 92131 84%1,040$185,256$1,189,100$659 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($193K more) · more homeowners
Camarillo, CA 93012 84%931$135,217$841,800$498 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Natick, MA 01760 83%2,461$138,563$821,300$454 cheaper homes ($175K less) · older homes
Princeton, NJ 08540 83%2,370$176,983$767,900$431 cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger
Malvern, PA 19355 83%2,339$169,417$692,300$315 cheaper homes ($304K less)
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 83%987$133,194$1,063,300$666 pricier homes ($67K more) · more walkable
Englewood, CO 80111 82%1,013$135,995$916,500$314 cheaper homes ($80K less)
San Diego, CA 92120 82%1,048$120,661$924,900$654 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28211 81%2,270$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($222K less) · more renters

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.