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 Monroe, WA 98272

Monroe: median income $122,352, home value $713,300, $396/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ramona, CA 92065 94%1,058$125,285$800,100$394 pricier homes ($87K more)
American Canyon, CA 94503 93%670$121,088$697,400$385 5 min shorter commute
Corona, CA 92881 92%996$134,932$799,700$396 pricier homes ($86K more)
Fallbrook, CA 92028 91%1,031$111,290$842,500$426 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger
Santa Clarita, CA 91350 90%944$140,110$801,300$427 pricier homes ($88K more)
Castaic, CA 91384 90%940$131,689$767,300$406 pricier homes ($54K more) · less walkable
Murrieta, CA 92562 89%1,017$114,266$663,600$318 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Temecula, CA 92592 89%1,024$134,313$709,000$354 larger
Fairfield, CA 94534 89%664$140,198$744,500$350 pricier homes ($31K more)
Manteca, CA 95337 89%697$117,137$645,200$281 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Alpine, CA 91901 88%1,073$114,167$852,000$456 pricier homes ($139K more) · smaller
Valley Center, CA 92082 88%1,042$126,544$833,600$416 pricier homes ($120K more)
Corona, CA 92883 88%1,002$132,969$723,900$362 Very close on everything we compare
Palmdale, CA 93551 88%936$119,801$585,100$264 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Elk Grove, CA 95624 88%653$125,332$633,300$312 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Oakley, CA 94561 87%682$134,678$659,800$336 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 5 min longer commute
Sandy, OR 97055 87%172$112,323$493,900$274 cheaper homes ($219K less) · smaller
Galt, CA 95632 86%663$102,239$522,200$312 cheaper homes ($191K less)
Miami, FL 33185 85%2,711$114,206$562,700$343 cheaper homes ($151K less) · older residents
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 85%973$143,265$895,000$416 pricier homes ($182K more)
Rialto, CA 92377 85%975$116,223$582,900$338 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Murrieta, CA 92563 85%1,018$125,397$645,700$301 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Wildomar, CA 92595 85%1,015$106,047$562,000$287 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Hollister, CA 95023 85%762$116,314$784,100$399 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · more renters
Vacaville, CA 95688 85%655$118,186$687,100$379 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min shorter commute · 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.