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 Carlsbad, CA 92008

Carlsbad: median income $104,995, home value $1,229,400, $891/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33133 90%2,278$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($207K less)
Miami, FL 33143 84%2,275$83,008$857,200$738 cheaper homes ($372K less)
Honolulu, HI 96822 80%2,601$95,947$1,003,400$551 cheaper homes ($226K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98116 80%1,030$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($256K less)
Seattle, WA 98125 79%1,039$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($355K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98144 77%1,030$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($328K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85018 76%309$93,885$862,000$517 cheaper homes ($367K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Kirkland, WA 98034 74%1,037$135,219$946,300$565 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($283K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98133 74%1,041$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($459K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33138 72%2,277$75,051$784,700$560 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($445K less)
Kailua, HI 96734 72%2,593$132,782$1,367,600$904 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($138K more) · larger
Honolulu, HI 96813 72%2,602$91,690$819,700$723 cheaper homes ($410K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Honolulu, HI 96816 72%2,600$114,609$1,168,800$730 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bothell, WA 98011 72%1,040$131,667$933,000$486 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($296K less) · newer homes
Renton, WA 98056 71%1,023$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($432K less)
Miami, FL 33134 70%2,274$99,766$711,800$594 cheaper homes ($518K less) · older homes
Miami Beach, FL 33154 70%2,282$89,563$961,800$756 cheaper homes ($268K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98126 69%1,028$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($446K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Woburn, MA 01801 68%2,567$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($556K less) · larger · older homes
Waltham, MA 02451 68%2,563$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($476K less) · smaller · older homes
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 68%2,422$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($613K less)
West Harrison, NY 10604 68%2,436$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($494K less) · smaller · older homes
Key West, FL 33040 68%2,220$86,586$819,400$824 cheaper homes ($410K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Avon, CO 81620 68%749$102,775$861,500$950 cheaper homes ($368K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Aiea, HI 96701 68%2,605$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($288K less) · more homeowners

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.