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 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

Rancho Santa Margarita: median income $152,528, home value $906,100, $637/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Marcos, CA 92078 90%44$120,268$942,300$530 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($36K more)
Camarillo, CA 93012 90%89$135,217$841,800$498 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 89%9$137,639$903,200$685 Very close on everything we compare
Carlsbad, CA 92010 86%38$129,926$1,103,300$639 pricier homes ($197K more) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92128 85%54$131,077$927,100$597 older residents
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 85%7$133,194$1,063,300$666 pricier homes ($157K more) · older homes
Issaquah, WA 98027 85%984$153,301$996,600$507 pricier homes ($91K more)
Lake Forest, CA 92630 84%5$125,853$910,300$637 lower income ($27K less) · larger · more walkable
Anaheim, CA 92808 84%17$158,462$1,069,300$627 pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Bothell, WA 98011 84%1,003$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($27K more)
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 83%80$139,800$1,116,500$566 pricier homes ($210K more) · older residents
Morgan Hill, CA 95037 83%332$163,182$1,243,900$634 pricier homes ($338K more) · 8 min longer commute
Mililani, HI 96789 83%2,597$127,066$920,400$602 lower income ($25K less)
Orange, CA 92869 82%15$138,204$994,400$645 pricier homes ($88K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
San Jose, CA 95131 82%353$170,255$1,164,800$764 pricier homes ($259K more) · more walkable
San Jose, CA 95136 82%346$142,433$1,144,000$706 pricier homes ($238K more) · more walkable · older homes
Kenmore, WA 98028 82%1,004$139,764$920,800$474 smaller · more single-family homes
Kirkland, WA 98034 82%1,001$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($40K more) · older homes
Mukilteo, WA 98275 82%1,016$132,861$884,900$418 smaller
Valencia, CA 91355 81%75$115,640$806,200$472 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($100K less)
San Diego, CA 92126 81%57$126,913$865,400$643 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 81%12$140,452$1,190,900$731 pricier homes ($285K more) · older residents
Tustin, CA 92782 81%13$146,080$1,149,200$700 pricier homes ($243K more)
Chula Vista, CA 91913 80%78$129,337$812,200$458 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Carlsbad, CA 92009 80%43$164,182$1,368,100$654 pricier homes ($462K more)

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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