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 National City, CA 91950

National City: median income $66,426, home value $612,200, $498/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75220 85%1,173$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Miami, FL 33161 84%2,262$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($171K less) · 6 min longer commute
Lake Worth, FL 33460 84%2,251$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($207K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 84%1,091$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Lakewood, WA 98499 83%1,041$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80010 82%837$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 81%2,411$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($241K less)
Plainfield, NJ 07060 78%2,404$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($218K less) · older homes
Reno, NV 89502 78%495$65,328$413,200$310 cheaper homes ($199K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 77%2,256$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($235K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Sparks, NV 89431 77%498$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($247K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98409 77%1,043$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($218K less) · smaller
Lawrence, MA 01843 76%2,571$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Long Branch, NJ 07740 76%2,427$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80214 76%828$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85021 76%296$59,768$470,400$321 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller
Gresham, OR 97030 76%932$69,239$435,700$254 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98002 76%1,046$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98188 76%1,056$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($156K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33162 75%2,260$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($209K less) · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97233 75%933$60,198$414,600$267 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98444 75%1,039$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($196K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Brockton, MA 02301 74%2,578$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($163K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Hialeah, FL 33014 74%2,254$77,338$424,200$327 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Hollywood, FL 33020 74%2,260$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($259K 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.