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 92010

Carlsbad: median income $129,926, home value $1,103,300, $639/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kenmore, WA 98028 91%1,041$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Carbondale, CO 81623 89%702$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($190K less)
Issaquah, WA 98027 89%1,020$153,301$996,600$507 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Bothell, WA 98011 88%1,040$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger
Mukilteo, WA 98275 87%1,052$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($218K less)
Kirkland, WA 98034 84%1,038$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger · older homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 80%2,401$156,458$791,100$530 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($312K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33156 80%2,274$137,076$1,120,100$619 larger · older homes
Mililani, HI 96789 79%2,609$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bothell, WA 98012 79%1,046$146,144$876,600$437 cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger
North Andover, MA 01845 78%2,568$140,670$732,900$367 cheaper homes ($370K less) · larger · older homes
Issaquah, WA 98029 78%1,024$170,759$1,063,200$525 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Silverthorne, CO 80498 77%765$105,897$824,200$614 cheaper homes ($279K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 77%707$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($304K less)
Renton, WA 98059 77%1,022$138,654$872,000$451 cheaper homes ($231K less) · larger · more homeowners
Woodinville, WA 98072 77%1,040$175,805$1,122,200$544 higher income ($46K more) · more single-family homes
Falls Church, VA 22043 76%2,258$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($222K less) · older homes
Basalt, CO 81621 76%715$104,754$1,136,600$1,250 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Renton, WA 98056 76%1,023$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($306K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98106 76%1,027$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($397K less) · larger · more walkable
Westborough, MA 01581 75%2,543$141,944$685,300$394 cheaper homes ($418K less) · older homes
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 75%2,160$111,907$755,100$472 cheaper homes ($348K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Reno, NV 89511 75%453$124,130$916,600$484 cheaper homes ($187K less) · larger · older residents
Canton, MA 02021 74%2,568$143,381$710,600$425 cheaper homes ($393K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Edmonds, WA 98026 74%1,047$133,638$821,700$450 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.