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 Santa Monica, CA 90404

Santa Monica: median income $95,139, home value $1,244,400, $819/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boston, MA 02111 80%2,603$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller · younger residents
New York, NY 10038 77%2,459$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($323K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98102 76%961$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($281K less) · younger residents
Boston, MA 02118 72%2,603$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 cheaper homes ($186K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Seattle, WA 98119 72%962$123,551$1,047,600$594 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($197K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98122 71%959$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($287K less) · larger · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22305 68%2,306$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($380K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Cambridge, MA 02141 65%2,602$126,522$868,100$842 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($376K less) · smaller
Bellevue, WA 98007 64%958$131,109$1,018,100$543 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($226K less) · younger residents
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 63%2,458$94,743$719,600$511 cheaper homes ($525K less) · 10 min longer commute · more homeowners
New York, NY 10036 63%2,459$95,638$952,900$1,304 cheaper homes ($292K less) · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Austin, TX 78704 63%1,237$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($328K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 62%2,157$73,542$637,700$514 cheaper homes ($607K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97210 62%826$93,621$991,200$376 cheaper homes ($253K less) · smaller · older homes
New York, NY 10019 61%2,459$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33129 61%2,348$113,367$736,300$632 cheaper homes ($508K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 60%2,342$84,920$654,500$480 cheaper homes ($590K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80218 60%843$81,706$676,700$398 cheaper homes ($568K less) · older homes
Boston, MA 02114 59%2,603$132,210$924,400$1,148 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($320K less) · smaller
White Plains, NY 10606 59%2,469$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($562K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33133 59%2,347$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($222K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80206 59%844$101,594$915,400$427 cheaper homes ($329K less) · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97232 59%825$70,895$781,200$326 cheaper homes ($463K less)
Seattle, WA 98144 59%958$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($343K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78751 58%1,238$80,915$852,000$470 cheaper homes ($392K less) · younger residents · more single-family 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.