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 Chula Vista, CA 91911

Chula Vista: median income $82,350, home value $636,100, $491/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98198 87%1,058$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98168 86%1,064$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Hempstead, NY 11550 85%2,446$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($171K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Honolulu, HI 96819 83%2,613$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($319K more) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 82%1,096$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Linden, NJ 07036 81%2,413$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($218K less) · smaller · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 81%2,254$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98002 81%1,051$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($215K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98030 81%1,056$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · newer homes
Revere, MA 02151 80%2,580$86,969$597,400$421 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Brockton, MA 02301 80%2,578$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($187K less) · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 80%2,255$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller
Long Branch, NJ 07740 79%2,427$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33024 79%2,252$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($227K less)
Taunton, MA 02780 77%2,575$74,471$413,900$326 cheaper homes ($222K less) · smaller · less walkable
Lake Worth, FL 33460 77%2,249$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller
Federal Way, WA 98003 77%1,053$75,319$476,600$314 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller · newer homes
Dover, NJ 07801 76%2,397$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller · older homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 76%2,254$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($259K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33161 76%2,260$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33169 76%2,256$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($233K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97236 76%936$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97266 76%936$72,577$445,700$302 cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Tacoma, WA 98409 76%1,048$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($242K less) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06854 75%2,455$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · less walkable

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.