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 Vacaville, CA 95688

Vacaville: median income $118,186, home value $687,100, $379/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Auburn, WA 98001 94%617$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Kent, WA 98031 94%622$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Renton, WA 98058 94%626$115,201$676,000$385 Very close on everything we compare
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701 93%382$114,244$795,300$474 pricier homes ($108K more)
Simi Valley, CA 93065 91%336$120,519$829,000$488 pricier homes ($142K more) · larger
Santa Maria, CA 93455 91%261$110,661$610,300$416 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Vallejo, CA 94591 91%23$104,550$630,500$352 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min longer commute
Fair Oaks, CA 95628 91%44$115,803$651,400$340 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Elk Grove, CA 95758 91%30$117,017$582,000$329 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · newer homes
Everett, WA 98208 91%657$103,705$691,500$388 larger
Chino, CA 91710 90%386$103,085$686,500$445 larger
Fallbrook, CA 92028 90%437$111,290$842,500$426 pricier homes ($155K more)
Oceanside, CA 92057 90%442$108,814$743,200$477 pricier homes ($56K more)
Riverside, CA 92506 90%400$121,459$669,500$384 older homes
Simi Valley, CA 93063 90%337$125,098$816,800$480 pricier homes ($130K more)
Paso Robles, CA 93446 90%202$97,943$707,500$431 Very close on everything we compare
Oregon City, OR 97045 90%481$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Federal Way, WA 98023 90%617$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Everett, WA 98203 90%660$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Marysville, WA 98270 90%669$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($107K less)
American Canyon, CA 94503 89%21$121,088$697,400$385 smaller · newer homes
Lodi, CA 95242 89%40$104,721$567,100$326 cheaper homes ($120K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Ripon, CA 95366 89%64$112,097$707,800$373 smaller
Orangevale, CA 95662 89%46$96,689$558,300$352 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Shingle Springs, CA 95682 89%58$122,436$722,800$332 pricier homes ($36K more) · older 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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