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 Boca Raton, FL 33486

Boca Raton: median income $105,540, home value $664,100, $530/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Diego, CA 92119 92%2,251$113,435$879,200$605 pricier homes ($215K more)
Stoneham, MA 02180 87%1,226$113,964$671,900$437 7 min longer commute · older homes
Belmar, NJ 07719 86%1,016$119,828$700,900$488 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 86%2,596$105,437$903,900$522 pricier homes ($240K more) · larger
Middletown, RI 02842 85%1,163$101,948$563,300$392 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more renters
Portsmouth, RI 02871 85%1,168$116,831$597,000$392 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Golden, CO 80401 85%1,713$118,039$804,500$350 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 85%1,962$123,203$785,700$426 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 85%2,594$118,299$788,000$455 pricier homes ($124K more) · 6 min longer commute
Charleston, SC 29412 84%440$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · newer homes
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 84%449$111,907$755,100$472 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · newer homes
La Mesa, CA 91941 84%2,250$115,381$928,700$525 pricier homes ($265K more)
San Diego, CA 92120 84%2,254$120,661$924,900$654 pricier homes ($261K more) · younger residents
Ventura, CA 93004 84%2,378$114,012$800,900$505 pricier homes ($137K more)
Benicia, CA 94510 84%2,564$121,204$810,000$431 pricier homes ($146K more) · 8 min longer commute
Mukilteo, WA 98275 84%2,712$132,861$884,900$418 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($221K more) · newer homes
Bristol, RI 02809 83%1,173$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($179K less) · older homes
Eatontown, NJ 07724 83%1,025$102,756$522,100$381 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Doylestown, PA 18901 83%1,006$118,256$576,800$306 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Asheville, NC 28804 83%658$88,312$566,000$324 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Valencia, CA 91355 83%2,343$115,640$806,200$472 pricier homes ($142K more) · 9 min longer commute
Los Osos, CA 93402 83%2,476$109,090$806,800$643 pricier homes ($143K more) · smaller · older residents
Hood River, OR 97031 83%2,632$91,858$691,200$409 pricier homes ($27K more)
Edmonds, WA 98026 83%2,711$133,638$821,700$450 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($158K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98155 83%2,709$131,540$816,400$460 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($152K more) · larger

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.