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 Imperial Beach, CA 91932

Imperial Beach: median income $85,833, home value $856,900, $587/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wahiawa, HI 96786 84%2,615$85,554$807,900$511 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · younger residents
Long Branch, NJ 07740 81%2,431$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($278K less)
Denver, CO 80214 78%834$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($298K less)
Framingham, MA 01702 77%2,562$82,496$583,000$340 cheaper homes ($274K less) · larger
Honolulu, HI 96819 76%2,610$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · older residents
Dallas, TX 75220 75%1,176$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($357K less) · larger
Honolulu, HI 96817 74%2,609$75,476$916,100$590 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · older residents
Honolulu, HI 96818 74%2,612$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($189K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Everett, WA 98201 74%1,097$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($357K less) · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33138 73%2,263$75,051$784,700$560 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33166 72%2,258$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($327K less) · more homeowners
White Plains, NY 10606 71%2,441$112,270$682,300$492 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($175K less)
Revere, MA 02151 70%2,584$86,969$597,400$421 cheaper homes ($260K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Beaverton, OR 97005 70%943$78,239$504,300$299 cheaper homes ($353K less)
Kent, WA 98032 70%1,058$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($336K less) · larger · newer homes
Renton, WA 98057 70%1,063$68,552$648,800$376 cheaper homes ($208K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98148 70%1,063$87,342$607,900$331 cheaper homes ($249K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Norwalk, CT 06854 69%2,459$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($396K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Lodi, NJ 07644 69%2,425$89,305$475,000$433 cheaper homes ($382K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98198 69%1,059$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($267K less) · larger · more homeowners
Wallington, NJ 07057 68%2,424$85,862$528,300$392 cheaper homes ($329K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 68%2,259$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($359K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98188 68%1,062$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($401K less)
Seattle, WA 98133 67%1,083$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · more homeowners
New Rochelle, NY 10801 66%2,441$85,573$575,300$378 cheaper homes ($282K less) · larger · 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.