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 Mukilteo, WA 98275

Mukilteo: median income $132,861, home value $884,900, $418/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Benicia, CA 94510 92%681$121,204$810,000$431 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 91%2,709$131,216$745,700$351 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 91%965$139,800$1,116,500$566 pricier homes ($232K more) · larger
Escondido, CA 92029 91%1,060$124,726$985,500$497 pricier homes ($101K more)
Valencia, CA 91355 90%954$115,640$806,200$472 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Camarillo, CA 93012 90%962$135,217$841,800$498 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · less walkable
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 89%1,125$123,203$785,700$426 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 88%1,018$133,194$1,063,300$666 pricier homes ($178K more)
Chantilly, VA 20151 87%2,301$158,271$676,800$317 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($208K less)
Lafayette, CO 80026 87%1,012$120,187$705,600$310 cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger
Carlsbad, CA 92010 87%1,052$129,926$1,103,300$639 pricier homes ($218K more)
San Diego, CA 92128 87%1,066$131,077$927,100$597 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Burlington, MA 01803 86%2,469$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($144K less) · older homes
North Andover, MA 01845 86%2,468$140,670$732,900$367 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 86%2,469$117,724$582,400$386 cheaper homes ($303K less)
Golden, CO 80401 86%1,020$118,039$804,500$350 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Longmont, CO 80503 86%1,003$113,620$755,500$282 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger
Reno, NV 89511 86%601$124,130$916,600$484 pricier homes ($32K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Newbury Park, CA 91320 86%965$148,991$948,100$507 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 86%1,018$131,175$1,037,300$636 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger
Carbondale, CO 81623 85%961$109,661$913,300$681 pricier homes ($28K more)
San Marcos, CA 92078 85%1,057$120,268$942,300$530 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 85%751$151,250$1,136,400$649 pricier homes ($252K more)
Folsom, CA 95630 85%642$139,642$755,200$382 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97007 85%173$123,533$608,800$288 cheaper homes ($276K less) · larger

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.