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 Lake Stevens, WA 98258

Lake Stevens: median income $123,898, home value $653,100, $375/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Temecula, CA 92592 95%1,036$134,313$709,000$354 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Fontana, CA 92336 93%990$123,363$627,700$336 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Murrieta, CA 92562 93%1,029$114,266$663,600$318 Very close on everything we compare
Palmdale, CA 93551 93%948$119,801$585,100$264 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Manteca, CA 95337 93%709$117,137$645,200$281 Very close on everything we compare
Elk Grove, CA 95624 93%664$125,332$633,300$312 Very close on everything we compare
Murrieta, CA 92563 91%1,030$125,397$645,700$301 larger
Corona, CA 92881 90%1,009$134,932$799,700$396 pricier homes ($147K more) · smaller · older residents
Fairfield, CA 94534 90%675$140,198$744,500$350 pricier homes ($91K more) · older residents
Oakley, CA 94561 90%693$134,678$659,800$336 5 min longer commute
Santa Clarita, CA 91350 89%956$140,110$801,300$427 pricier homes ($148K more)
Fallbrook, CA 92028 89%1,043$111,290$842,500$426 pricier homes ($189K more)
Ramona, CA 92065 89%1,071$125,285$800,100$394 pricier homes ($147K more) · older residents
American Canyon, CA 94503 89%681$121,088$697,400$385 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Moreno Valley, CA 92555 88%1,005$121,425$587,300$281 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min longer commute
Corona, CA 92883 88%1,014$132,969$723,900$362 pricier homes ($71K more)
Elk Grove, CA 95758 88%664$117,017$582,000$329 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Castaic, CA 91384 87%952$131,689$767,300$406 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · less walkable
Brentwood, CA 94513 87%697$142,223$837,800$346 pricier homes ($185K more)
Hollister, CA 95023 87%774$116,314$784,100$399 pricier homes ($131K more)
Menifee, CA 92584 86%1,024$113,767$599,200$283 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 6 min longer commute
Corona, CA 92880 86%1,001$151,155$811,300$343 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($158K more)
Sacramento, CA 95829 86%661$105,395$621,100$292 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Jackson, NJ 08527 85%2,393$115,487$485,800$299 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Rialto, CA 92377 85%988$116,223$582,900$338 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller

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.