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 Salinas, CA 93907

Salinas: median income $104,942, home value $750,100, $484/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fillmore, CA 93015 92%225$92,777$625,400$401 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Paso Robles, CA 93446 91%94$97,943$707,500$431 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Chino, CA 91710 90%294$103,085$686,500$445 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Dixon, CA 95620 90%117$103,054$619,800$339 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Alpine, CA 91901 89%389$114,167$852,000$456 pricier homes ($102K more)
Auburn, WA 98001 89%730$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Ontario, CA 91761 88%296$100,578$635,000$385 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger
El Cajon, CA 92019 88%385$101,973$801,400$520 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Lakeside, CA 92040 88%381$107,937$723,200$496 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Ripon, CA 95366 88%75$112,097$707,800$373 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Escondido, CA 92027 87%362$93,338$691,000$453 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Fallbrook, CA 92028 87%343$111,290$842,500$426 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Marysville, WA 98270 87%782$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger · newer homes
Puyallup, WA 98371 87%722$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($193K less)
Vista, CA 92084 86%351$98,577$824,400$470 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Atascadero, CA 93422 86%105$91,780$737,600$438 7 min shorter commute
Nipomo, CA 93444 86%136$110,867$816,000$507 pricier homes ($66K more) · older residents · newer homes
Vacaville, CA 95688 86%114$118,186$687,100$379 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Kent, WA 98031 86%735$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · more walkable
Marysville, WA 98271 86%784$95,654$538,400$380 cheaper homes ($212K less) · newer homes
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 85%2,596$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($263K less) · larger
Mira Loma, CA 91752 85%302$115,177$689,600$336 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · newer homes
Escondido, CA 92026 85%359$104,561$714,300$468 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Oceanside, CA 92057 85%347$108,814$743,200$477 larger · more walkable
American Canyon, CA 94503 85%103$121,088$697,400$385 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 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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