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 Lynnwood, WA 98087

Lynnwood: median income $106,693, home value $676,400, $396/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 91%2,708$97,412$500,700$296 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Renton, WA 98055 90%28$97,224$602,800$326 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 88%980$92,237$616,300$425 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older homes
Renton, WA 98056 86%25$113,688$797,300$467 pricier homes ($121K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95834 85%638$101,260$557,600$289 cheaper homes ($119K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Wilsonville, OR 97070 85%179$97,429$631,400$285 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Lynnwood, WA 98037 84%2$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($91K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Rohnert Park, CA 94928 83%658$99,280$666,000$413 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Hillsboro, OR 97124 83%164$110,067$556,300$313 cheaper homes ($120K less) · 9 min shorter commute
San Marcos, CA 92069 82%1,051$96,771$800,700$493 pricier homes ($124K more) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Kent, WA 98030 82%33$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 81%2,707$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($100K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Beaverton, OR 97006 81%164$104,790$549,200$300 cheaper homes ($127K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98106 81%23$124,212$706,600$448 pricier homes ($30K more) · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22306 80%2,320$97,132$594,000$343 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older homes
Chula Vista, CA 91913 80%1,086$129,337$812,200$458 pricier homes ($136K more) · more homeowners
Lynnwood, WA 98036 80%4$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($84K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Broomfield, CO 80021 79%1,013$110,038$568,000$292 cheaper homes ($108K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33178 78%2,724$96,653$552,300$347 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80234 78%1,016$92,563$530,300$237 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Upland, CA 91786 78%979$92,458$641,600$435 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95833 78%640$97,792$464,400$302 cheaper homes ($212K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Happy Valley, OR 97086 78%168$102,359$697,400$285 older residents · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Vancouver, WA 98683 78%157$87,659$543,100$308 cheaper homes ($133K less) · older residents
Austin, TX 78723 77%1,776$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($114K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older 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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