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 Soquel, CA 95073

Soquel: median income $118,169, home value $1,062,800, $699/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Escondido, CA 92029 90%385$124,726$985,500$497 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92119 90%403$113,435$879,200$605 cheaper homes ($184K less) · larger
Novato, CA 94947 89%83$128,766$1,017,600$602 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 89%2$153,222$1,228,500$674 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($166K more)
Bonita, CA 91902 88%410$122,524$984,900$532 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Carbondale, CO 81623 87%815$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($150K less) · newer homes
Anaheim, CA 92807 87%320$138,741$963,200$610 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
La Mesa, CA 91941 86%405$115,381$928,700$525 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 86%342$129,457$993,800$697 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Tahoe City, CA 96145 86%180$112,875$962,600$704 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 85%336$133,194$1,063,300$666 larger · more walkable
Orange, CA 92869 85%323$138,204$994,400$645 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · more walkable
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 85%152$110,553$917,900$572 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · older residents
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 85%5$151,250$1,136,400$649 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($74K more)
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 85%107$118,299$788,000$455 cheaper homes ($275K less) · larger
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 84%262$139,800$1,116,500$566 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 84%344$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller
Fullerton, CA 92835 83%313$143,817$1,052,500$603 higher income ($26K more) · larger · more walkable
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 83%195$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($143K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Healdsburg, CA 95448 83%122$105,120$1,048,300$701 7 min shorter commute
Sebastopol, CA 95472 83%108$108,925$1,020,100$619 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older residents
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 82%43$153,781$1,556,800$812 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($494K more)
Hayward, CA 94542 82%45$133,734$1,148,000$606 pricier homes ($85K more) · 10 min longer commute
Novato, CA 94945 82%84$107,790$1,124,100$560 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · older residents
Novato, CA 94949 82%80$120,758$1,150,500$576 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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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