OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

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 Cotati, CA 94931

Cotati: median income $101,994, home value $820,000, $454/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 93%830$109,129$798,900$438 larger
Buellton, CA 93427 92%292$102,857$867,500$567 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Lynnwood, WA 98037 91%658$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Spring Valley, CA 91978 90%503$113,170$637,200$504 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Steilacoom, WA 98388 90%611$100,851$655,000$377 cheaper homes ($165K less)
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 88%654$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger
West Covina, CA 91792 87%400$94,817$696,200$489 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Vista, CA 92081 87%470$105,379$838,600$519 larger
Oxnard, CA 93035 87%346$106,611$801,600$598 larger · older residents
Renton, WA 98056 87%635$113,688$797,300$467 larger
Seattle, WA 98108 87%637$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · older homes
University Place, WA 98467 87%613$91,354$623,800$326 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
Torrance, CA 90502 86%396$94,291$697,400$557 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger
Covina, CA 91724 86%398$103,163$782,700$494 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older homes
Lynnwood, WA 98036 86%655$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92139 85%503$95,653$630,800$507 cheaper homes ($189K less) · larger
Gardena, CA 90248 84%394$91,176$724,300$597 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older homes
Signal Hill, CA 90755 84%402$113,512$787,300$487 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more apartments and townhomes
El Cajon, CA 92019 84%502$101,973$801,400$520 larger
Ventura, CA 93004 84%342$114,012$800,900$505 larger
Seattle, WA 98146 84%634$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · older homes
Vista, CA 92084 83%468$98,577$824,400$470 larger
Orange, CA 92865 83%412$127,431$872,700$571 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Rocklin, CA 95677 83%86$105,713$654,200$349 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger
Winters, CA 95694 83%42$109,696$658,400$360 cheaper homes ($162K less) · more single-family homes · less 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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