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 98029

Issaquah: median income $170,759, home value $1,063,200, $525/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tustin, CA 92782 87%980$146,080$1,149,200$700 pricier homes ($86K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Herndon, VA 20171 85%2,289$171,372$797,200$331 cheaper homes ($266K less) · larger
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694 85%995$189,966$1,127,200$634 pricier homes ($64K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Princeton, NJ 08540 82%2,369$176,983$767,900$431 cheaper homes ($295K less) · larger · older homes
Ashburn, VA 20147 80%2,281$163,904$718,500$311 cheaper homes ($345K less) · larger
Carlsbad, CA 92011 80%1,028$159,235$1,302,600$770 pricier homes ($239K more) · older residents
San Diego, CA 92127 80%1,036$195,520$1,232,300$676 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 80%992$137,639$903,200$685 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger
Irvine, CA 92620 79%983$146,942$1,267,800$801 pricier homes ($205K more) · larger
Carlsbad, CA 92009 78%1,030$164,182$1,368,100$654 pricier homes ($305K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Carlsbad, CA 92010 78%1,024$129,926$1,103,300$639 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Fairfax, VA 22030 77%2,295$139,831$740,400$347 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($323K less) · larger
Falls Church, VA 22043 77%2,300$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($182K less) · older homes
Mc Lean, VA 22102 77%2,296$153,949$955,500$417 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 76%2,367$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($272K less) · smaller · older residents
Reston, VA 20194 76%2,290$170,988$827,100$377 cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller · older residents
Austin, TX 78730 76%1,747$158,673$1,014,700$360 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80238 76%1,005$180,940$832,200$295 cheaper homes ($231K less)
Irvine, CA 92602 76%980$161,620$1,502,000$877 pricier homes ($439K more) · more renters
Anaheim, CA 92808 76%972$158,462$1,069,300$627 older residents · more single-family homes
Fairfax, VA 22033 75%2,291$143,454$648,800$355 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($414K less)
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 75%988$152,528$906,100$637 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Atlanta, GA 30319 73%2,160$130,648$762,500$301 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($301K less) · larger
San Jose, CA 95131 73%703$170,255$1,164,800$764 pricier homes ($102K more) · more walkable · older homes
Sterling, VA 20165 72%2,285$183,076$704,800$295 cheaper homes ($358K less) · 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.