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 Novato, CA 94945

Novato: median income $107,790, home value $1,124,100, $560/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
La Palma, CA 90623 92%389$116,594$979,600$562 cheaper homes ($145K less)
Novato, CA 94947 92%1$128,766$1,017,600$602 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Edmonds, WA 98020 91%670$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Sonoma, CA 95476 90%13$105,374$896,900$609 cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger
Belmar, NJ 07719 87%2,570$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($423K less)
Woodland Hills, CA 91364 87%352$132,854$1,208,200$605 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
San Pedro, CA 90732 86%385$120,807$857,000$483 cheaper homes ($267K less) · more apartments and townhomes
La Verne, CA 91750 86%385$104,195$814,700$528 cheaper homes ($309K less) · larger
Arcadia, CA 91006 85%374$123,533$1,260,000$688 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · younger residents
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 85%340$119,296$937,000$551 cheaper homes ($187K less) · larger · younger residents
Diamond Bar, CA 91765 85%389$105,565$915,100$560 cheaper homes ($209K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92119 85%482$113,435$879,200$605 cheaper homes ($245K less) · younger residents
Fountain Valley, CA 92708 85%399$115,237$1,072,300$699 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · younger residents
Benicia, CA 94510 85%23$121,204$810,000$431 cheaper homes ($314K less) · larger
Petaluma, CA 94952 85%10$117,343$1,041,100$656 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · younger residents
La Mesa, CA 91941 84%484$115,381$928,700$525 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · younger residents
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 84%416$131,175$1,037,300$636 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · newer homes
Fullerton, CA 92835 84%391$143,817$1,052,500$603 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · younger residents
Morro Bay, CA 93442 84%212$95,623$918,700$629 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Novato, CA 94949 84%4$120,758$1,150,500$576 pricier homes ($26K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Sebastopol, CA 95472 84%24$108,925$1,020,100$619 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98166 84%645$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($300K less) · younger residents · older homes
Tacoma, WA 98407 84%633$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($468K less)
Narragansett, RI 02882 83%2,684$95,721$749,700$555 cheaper homes ($374K less)
Los Alamitos, CA 90720 83%391$135,851$1,215,400$740 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($91K more) · younger residents

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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