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 Everett, WA 98208

Everett: median income $103,705, home value $691,500, $388/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oceanside, CA 92057 96%1,044$108,814$743,200$477 pricier homes ($52K more)
Escondido, CA 92026 93%1,052$104,561$714,300$468 Very close on everything we compare
Paso Robles, CA 93446 93%850$97,943$707,500$431 Very close on everything we compare
Rocklin, CA 95677 93%631$105,713$654,200$349 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Vacaville, CA 95687 93%660$109,566$606,300$340 cheaper homes ($85K less)
El Cajon, CA 92019 92%1,080$101,973$801,400$520 pricier homes ($110K more)
Oregon City, OR 97045 92%178$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Hillsboro, OR 97123 92%169$109,985$538,500$298 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Santa Maria, CA 93455 91%907$110,661$610,300$416 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Vacaville, CA 95688 91%657$118,186$687,100$379 smaller
Newberg, OR 97132 91%182$96,493$522,900$310 cheaper homes ($169K less) · smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 90%2,706$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Chino, CA 91710 90%987$103,085$686,500$445 Very close on everything we compare
Ontario, CA 91761 90%987$100,578$635,000$385 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 5 min longer commute
Escondido, CA 92027 90%1,054$93,338$691,000$453 Very close on everything we compare
Oceanside, CA 92056 90%1,047$106,272$773,200$555 pricier homes ($82K more)
Santee, CA 92071 90%1,075$113,618$728,900$526 pricier homes ($37K more)
Vista, CA 92084 90%1,047$98,577$824,400$470 pricier homes ($133K more)
Spring Valley, CA 91977 89%1,083$99,657$665,600$527 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older homes
Simi Valley, CA 93065 89%958$120,519$829,000$488 pricier homes ($138K more)
Stockton, CA 95219 89%684$112,268$581,300$270 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Modesto, CA 95356 89%707$96,886$532,600$278 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
West Sacramento, CA 95691 89%645$104,750$555,800$300 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Lakeside, CA 92040 88%1,075$107,937$723,200$496 pricier homes ($32K more)
Redlands, CA 92374 88%990$102,813$551,600$362 cheaper homes ($140K less) · younger 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.