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 Ocean City, NJ 08226

Ocean City: median income $101,782, home value $840,500, $816/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Delray Beach, FL 33483 92%940$116,115$866,800$708 pricier homes ($26K more)
Boca Raton, FL 33432 84%948$107,045$1,052,700$856 pricier homes ($212K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 83%965$96,641$839,500$638 more renters
Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785 83%918$101,356$729,200$538 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305 79%961$92,485$640,400$476 cheaper homes ($200K less)
Hollywood, FL 33019 78%971$96,497$655,100$427 cheaper homes ($185K less)
Pismo Beach, CA 93449 76%2,523$118,072$1,021,300$777 pricier homes ($181K more) · more single-family homes
Saint Petersburg, FL 33706 75%924$104,359$655,800$455 cheaper homes ($185K less) · older residents · older homes
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767 73%913$117,425$757,800$544 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Capitola, CA 95010 72%2,550$105,236$828,700$906 younger residents · more renters
Miramar Beach, FL 32550 71%905$101,250$741,600$458 cheaper homes ($99K less) · less walkable · newer homes
North Palm Beach, FL 33408 71%916$92,216$611,400$406 cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Naples, FL 34103 71%995$116,875$950,900$627 pricier homes ($110K more) · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Scottsdale, AZ 85258 71%2,096$114,111$846,000$462 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 70%960$95,542$486,000$590 cheaper homes ($355K less) · smaller · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 70%966$93,879$564,900$377 cheaper homes ($276K less) · larger · older homes
Novato, CA 94949 69%2,558$120,758$1,150,500$576 pricier homes ($310K more) · larger · younger residents
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 68%831$89,457$532,300$353 cheaper homes ($308K less)
Boca Raton, FL 33487 68%944$96,066$632,100$439 cheaper homes ($208K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Frisco, CO 80443 68%1,675$108,710$909,000$900 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · younger residents
Sarasota, FL 34236 67%944$95,881$1,018,100$648 pricier homes ($178K more) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Sarasota, FL 34242 67%948$115,967$1,046,100$643 pricier homes ($206K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Carolina Beach, NC 28428 66%405$93,241$572,700$417 cheaper homes ($268K less) · smaller · less walkable
Solvang, CA 93463 66%2,510$118,488$1,114,500$639 pricier homes ($274K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Orange Beach, AL 36561 65%962$98,295$574,500$490 cheaper homes ($266K less) · less walkable · newer 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.