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 Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Arroyo Grande: median income $110,553, home value $917,900, $572/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Napa, CA 94558 93%248$113,269$890,500$550 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Santa Rosa, CA 95409 91%257$107,867$802,000$445 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Sonoma, CA 95476 91%242$105,374$896,900$609 Very close on everything we compare
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 90%258$105,437$903,900$522 Very close on everything we compare
Reno, NV 89511 89%296$124,130$916,600$484 newer homes
Bonita, CA 91902 89%262$122,524$984,900$532 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 89%257$118,299$788,000$455 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Healdsburg, CA 95448 89%273$105,120$1,048,300$701 pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller
Sebastopol, CA 95472 89%259$108,925$1,020,100$619 pricier homes ($102K more)
Escondido, CA 92029 88%239$124,726$985,500$497 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · younger residents
Camarillo, CA 93010 86%103$111,176$867,100$495 cheaper homes ($51K less) · younger residents
Camarillo, CA 93012 86%106$135,217$841,800$498 cheaper homes ($76K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Novato, CA 94947 86%234$128,766$1,017,600$602 pricier homes ($100K more) · older homes
La Mesa, CA 91941 85%258$115,381$928,700$525 younger residents · older homes
Ventura, CA 93004 85%96$114,012$800,900$505 cheaper homes ($117K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Los Osos, CA 93402 85%23$109,090$806,800$643 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Benicia, CA 94510 85%221$121,204$810,000$431 cheaper homes ($108K less) · 6 min longer commute
Soquel, CA 95073 85%152$118,169$1,062,800$699 pricier homes ($145K more) · smaller · younger residents
Anacortes, WA 98221 85%928$96,528$713,100$419 cheaper homes ($205K less)
Carbondale, CO 81623 84%781$109,661$913,300$681 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 84%112$119,296$937,000$551 more walkable
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737 84%178$122,334$878,400$459 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 8 min longer commute
El Cajon, CA 92019 84%262$101,973$801,400$520 cheaper homes ($117K less) · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92119 84%256$113,435$879,200$605 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · older homes
Nipomo, CA 93444 84%10$110,867$816,000$507 cheaper homes ($102K less) · younger residents · newer 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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