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.

Reset

Towns most like La Mesa, CA 91941

La Mesa: median income $115,381, home value $928,700, $525/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98155 93%1,072$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 92%1,078$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Seattle, WA 98166 92%1,053$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 89%2,620$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 89%1,056$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($249K less)
Belmar, NJ 07719 87%2,416$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($228K less) · smaller · older residents
Kaneohe, HI 96744 87%2,611$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger
Aiea, HI 96701 86%2,619$111,173$941,600$542 more apartments and townhomes
Honolulu, HI 96816 86%2,615$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($240K more) · larger · older residents
Danvers, MA 01923 85%2,575$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($285K less)
Tacoma, WA 98407 85%1,044$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($272K less) · smaller · older residents
Stoneham, MA 02180 84%2,568$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($257K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Boca Raton, FL 33486 84%2,250$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($265K less)
Waltham, MA 02451 83%2,560$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75229 83%1,168$121,469$631,700$335 cheaper homes ($297K less)
Tacoma, WA 98406 83%1,043$104,264$638,400$347 cheaper homes ($290K less)
Burlington, MA 01803 82%2,562$146,436$740,600$441 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($188K less)
Dedham, MA 02026 82%2,564$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($267K less) · older homes
Clark, NJ 07066 82%2,403$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($319K less) · smaller
Winter Park, FL 32789 82%2,128$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 82%714$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · newer homes
Mililani, HI 96789 82%2,622$127,066$920,400$602 larger · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98108 82%1,058$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($208K less)
Seattle, WA 98118 82%1,058$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Falls Church, VA 22042 81%2,252$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($213K less)

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.