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 Vista, CA 92081

Vista: median income $105,379, home value $838,600, $519/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Marcos, CA 92069 95%4$96,771$800,700$493 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 92%705$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Renton, WA 98056 92%1,024$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Escondido, CA 92026 91%8$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Oceanside, CA 92056 90%3$106,272$773,200$555 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · more homeowners
Redlands, CA 92373 89%61$101,271$765,700$386 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older homes
Lynnwood, WA 98037 89%1,047$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($71K less)
El Cajon, CA 92019 88%33$101,973$801,400$520 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Camarillo, CA 93010 88%127$111,176$867,100$495 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older homes
Marina, CA 93933 88%354$99,826$833,800$503 more walkable
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 88%480$98,191$693,000$446 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger
Oxnard, CA 93035 87%134$106,611$801,600$598 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Cotati, CA 94931 87%470$101,994$820,000$454 smaller
Lynnwood, WA 98036 87%1,045$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min longer commute
Valencia, CA 91355 86%114$115,640$806,200$472 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more homeowners
Ventura, CA 93004 86%135$114,012$800,900$505 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Napa, CA 94559 86%453$105,188$898,600$586 pricier homes ($60K more) · older homes
Vista, CA 92084 85%3$98,577$824,400$470 larger
San Diego, CA 92126 85%18$126,913$865,400$643 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Ventura, CA 93003 85%138$103,761$816,300$535 larger · more walkable · older homes
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 85%478$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($208K less)
Seattle, WA 98106 85%1,028$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($132K less) · more walkable
San Diego, CA 92111 84%26$99,644$817,700$658 larger · older homes
Buellton, CA 93427 84%197$102,857$867,500$567 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 84%476$105,437$903,900$522 pricier homes ($65K more) · 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.

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