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 Lynnwood, WA 98036

Lynnwood: median income $88,958, home value $759,900, $437/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33176 95%2,732$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($121K less)
West Covina, CA 91792 92%979$94,817$696,200$489 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Escondido, CA 92026 90%1,047$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Oceanside, CA 92056 90%1,042$106,272$773,200$555 Very close on everything we compare
San Marcos, CA 92069 90%1,047$96,771$800,700$493 pricier homes ($41K more)
Vista, CA 92084 90%1,042$98,577$824,400$470 pricier homes ($65K more)
El Cajon, CA 92019 89%1,075$101,973$801,400$520 pricier homes ($42K more)
Oceanside, CA 92057 89%1,039$108,814$743,200$477 Very close on everything we compare
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 88%2,707$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Canoga Park, CA 91304 88%958$90,007$886,400$504 pricier homes ($127K more) · older homes
Corona, CA 92879 88%993$92,229$616,300$410 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 87%939$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
San Dimas, CA 91773 87%975$105,338$800,700$515 pricier homes ($41K more) · more homeowners
Escondido, CA 92027 87%1,049$93,338$691,000$453 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Vista, CA 92081 87%1,045$105,379$838,600$519 pricier homes ($79K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Sacramento, CA 95831 87%644$100,751$642,700$346 cheaper homes ($117K less)
San Diego, CA 92139 86%1,080$95,653$630,800$507 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Cotati, CA 94931 86%655$101,994$820,000$454 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Carmichael, CA 95608 86%636$86,563$599,100$331 cheaper homes ($161K less) · older homes
Newberg, OR 97132 86%175$96,493$522,900$310 cheaper homes ($237K less)
Miami, FL 33157 85%2,735$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($213K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33186 85%2,729$93,462$465,400$338 cheaper homes ($295K less) · larger
La Habra, CA 90631 85%984$104,251$818,500$545 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · older homes
Covina, CA 91724 85%975$103,163$782,700$494 older homes
La Verne, CA 91750 85%974$104,195$814,700$528 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents

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.