OfferBackedBuyer Tools
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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 El Cajon, CA 92019

El Cajon: median income $101,973, home value $801,400, $520/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Escondido, CA 92026 97%28$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Oceanside, CA 92056 96%36$106,272$773,200$555 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Lakeside, CA 92040 95%5$107,937$723,200$496 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Santee, CA 92071 95%6$113,618$728,900$526 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Paso Robles, CA 93446 95%293$97,943$707,500$431 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Oceanside, CA 92057 94%39$108,814$743,200$477 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Pearl City, HI 96782 94%2,626$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($73K more)
Vista, CA 92084 93%35$98,577$824,400$470 Very close on everything we compare
San Dimas, CA 91773 92%105$105,338$800,700$515 Very close on everything we compare
Spring Valley, CA 91977 92%6$99,657$665,600$527 cheaper homes ($136K less) · younger residents
Oxnard, CA 93035 92%164$106,611$801,600$598 smaller
Atascadero, CA 93422 92%284$91,780$737,600$438 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Everett, WA 98208 92%1,080$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 91%709$109,129$798,900$438 smaller
Escondido, CA 92027 91%26$93,338$691,000$453 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Ventura, CA 93004 91%166$114,012$800,900$505 Very close on everything we compare
Camarillo, CA 93010 90%158$111,176$867,100$495 pricier homes ($66K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Simi Valley, CA 93065 90%148$120,519$829,000$488 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Covina, CA 91724 89%106$103,163$782,700$494 smaller · older homes
San Marcos, CA 92069 89%29$96,771$800,700$493 Very close on everything we compare
Simi Valley, CA 93063 89%147$125,098$816,800$480 Very close on everything we compare
Napa, CA 94558 89%493$113,269$890,500$550 pricier homes ($89K more)
Kent, WA 98031 89%1,047$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($190K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 89%1,075$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Chino, CA 91710 88%96$103,085$686,500$445 cheaper homes ($115K 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.

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