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 Renton, WA 98056

Renton: median income $113,688, home value $797,300, $467/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vista, CA 92081 92%1,024$105,379$838,600$519 pricier homes ($41K more)
Brea, CA 92821 91%964$123,629$903,200$593 pricier homes ($106K more)
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 89%924$109,129$798,900$438 smaller
Oceanside, CA 92056 89%1,021$106,272$773,200$555 more homeowners
Springfield, VA 22150 88%2,312$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Chatsworth, CA 91311 88%934$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($79K more) · more homeowners · older homes
San Marcos, CA 92069 88%1,026$96,771$800,700$493 Very close on everything we compare
Placentia, CA 92870 88%968$115,929$921,000$604 pricier homes ($124K more) · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95831 88%623$100,751$642,700$346 cheaper homes ($155K less)
West Covina, CA 91792 87%958$94,817$696,200$489 cheaper homes ($101K less) · older homes
Escondido, CA 92026 87%1,026$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($83K less) · less walkable
Fullerton, CA 92833 87%967$114,176$884,100$637 pricier homes ($87K more) · older homes
Marina, CA 93933 87%748$99,826$833,800$503 pricier homes ($37K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Cotati, CA 94931 87%635$101,994$820,000$454 smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 86%2,697$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($221K less)
Valencia, CA 91355 86%925$115,640$806,200$472 more homeowners · less walkable
Oceanside, CA 92057 86%1,018$108,814$743,200$477 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more homeowners
Roseville, CA 95661 86%608$105,925$687,800$366 cheaper homes ($110K less) · 6 min shorter commute
El Cajon, CA 92019 85%1,054$101,973$801,400$520 more homeowners
Vista, CA 92084 85%1,021$98,577$824,400$470 pricier homes ($27K more)
Ventura, CA 93003 85%926$103,761$816,300$535 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Ventura, CA 93004 85%927$114,012$800,900$505 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Oxnard, CA 93035 85%933$106,611$801,600$598 older residents
Benicia, CA 94510 85%652$121,204$810,000$431 older residents · more homeowners
Woburn, MA 01801 84%2,472$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($124K 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.