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 San Marcos, CA 92069

San Marcos: median income $96,771, home value $800,700, $493/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vista, CA 92081 95%4$105,379$838,600$519 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Escondido, CA 92026 94%4$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 93%483$98,191$693,000$446 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Vista, CA 92084 92%6$98,577$824,400$470 Very close on everything we compare
Rohnert Park, CA 94928 91%474$99,280$666,000$413 cheaper homes ($135K less)
San Diego, CA 92139 90%33$95,653$630,800$507 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 90%481$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 90%1,047$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($41K less)
El Cajon, CA 92019 89%29$101,973$801,400$520 Very close on everything we compare
Oceanside, CA 92056 89%7$106,272$773,200$555 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98037 89%1,050$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Newhall, CA 91321 88%115$91,092$691,600$413 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Escondido, CA 92027 88%7$93,338$691,000$453 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Renton, WA 98056 88%1,026$113,688$797,300$467 Very close on everything we compare
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 87%703$109,129$798,900$438 smaller
Spring Valley, CA 91977 87%31$99,657$665,600$527 cheaper homes ($135K less) · older homes
Lakeside, CA 92040 87%25$107,937$723,200$496 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Chula Vista, CA 91910 86%36$90,222$741,200$499 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older homes
San Diego, CA 92154 86%40$94,901$639,200$448 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger
Marina, CA 93933 86%358$99,826$833,800$503 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · more renters
Renton, WA 98055 86%1,024$97,224$602,800$326 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller
Escondido, CA 92025 85%6$81,106$827,900$479 pricier homes ($27K more) · more renters
Vista, CA 92083 85%6$86,974$658,200$528 cheaper homes ($143K less)
Redlands, CA 92373 85%62$101,271$765,700$386 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Everett, WA 98208 85%1,052$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($109K less) · more homeowners · more single-family 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.

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