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 Buellton, CA 93427

Buellton: median income $102,857, home value $867,500, $567/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cotati, CA 94931 92%292$101,994$820,000$454 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 89%785$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Steilacoom, WA 98388 85%876$100,851$655,000$377 cheaper homes ($213K less) · older homes
Carbondale, CO 81623 84%784$109,661$913,300$681 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Vista, CA 92081 84%197$105,379$838,600$519 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Signal Hill, CA 90755 82%129$113,512$787,300$487 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Spring Valley, CA 91978 82%227$113,170$637,200$504 cheaper homes ($230K less) · larger · older homes
Oxnard, CA 93035 80%63$106,611$801,600$598 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older homes
Hauula, HI 96717 80%2,451$102,978$875,000$625 younger residents · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Lynnwood, WA 98037 80%920$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Renton, WA 98056 80%896$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Bonsall, CA 92003 79%195$113,216$926,700$451 pricier homes ($59K more) · less walkable
Calistoga, CA 94515 79%304$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents · older homes
University Place, WA 98467 79%878$91,354$623,800$326 cheaper homes ($244K less) · larger
Silverthorne, CO 80498 78%846$105,897$824,200$614 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Valencia, CA 91355 78%95$115,640$806,200$472 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Escondido, CA 92029 77%206$124,726$985,500$497 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger · more homeowners
Carlsbad, CA 92010 76%194$129,926$1,103,300$639 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($236K more) · larger
Novato, CA 94949 76%271$120,758$1,150,500$576 pricier homes ($283K more) · larger · older residents
Lynnwood, WA 98036 76%917$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Driggs, ID 83422 75%794$96,530$548,600$486 cheaper homes ($319K less) · less walkable
Oceanside, CA 92056 75%194$106,272$773,200$555 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Benicia, CA 94510 75%262$121,204$810,000$431 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Gardena, CA 90248 74%121$91,176$724,300$597 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · older homes
Torrance, CA 90502 74%122$94,291$697,400$557 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger · more walkable

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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