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 San Diego, CA 92101

San Diego: median income $91,566, home value $793,100, $693/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33137 87%2,267$94,036$616,800$672 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33132 83%2,268$109,109$524,300$550 cheaper homes ($269K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33602 83%2,086$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75201 80%1,181$103,761$688,100$614 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller · younger residents
Denver, CO 80202 76%833$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98122 75%1,064$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($164K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Portland, OR 97209 74%933$80,301$587,300$343 cheaper homes ($206K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98101 72%1,064$128,882$784,200$657 higher income ($37K more) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 71%2,263$124,812$884,800$542 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller
Miami, FL 33130 68%2,267$61,009$517,300$536 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($276K less)
Nashville, TN 37203 68%1,740$71,281$549,000$460 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller · younger residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 68%627$72,735$499,300$474 cheaper homes ($294K less) · smaller · younger residents
Houston, TX 77027 67%1,297$103,812$859,500$362 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98109 67%1,066$133,663$1,034,100$649 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($241K more) · smaller
Boston, MA 02111 66%2,578$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 pricier homes ($240K more) · smaller · older homes
Stamford, CT 06901 66%2,452$102,641$478,700$463 cheaper homes ($314K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98104 66%1,063$61,460$616,000$596 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75204 65%1,182$92,253$479,500$314 cheaper homes ($314K less) · younger residents
Austin, TX 78704 65%1,154$106,897$916,100$507 pricier homes ($123K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28202 64%2,077$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($350K less) · smaller · younger residents
Denver, CO 80204 64%831$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($173K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Greenville, SC 29601 63%1,991$76,136$659,000$414 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30312 62%1,888$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75206 62%1,183$91,023$615,400$363 cheaper homes ($178K less) · younger residents · older homes
New York, NY 10036 60%2,428$95,638$952,900$1,304 pricier homes ($160K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute

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.