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 San Diego, CA 92102

San Diego: median income $77,248, home value $750,000, $688/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80214 79%828$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($191K less)
Wahiawa, HI 96786 79%2,615$85,554$807,900$511 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Long Branch, NJ 07740 78%2,427$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($171K less) · 7 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33138 75%2,264$75,051$784,700$560 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96817 75%2,610$75,476$916,100$590 pricier homes ($166K more) · older residents
Everett, WA 98201 75%1,088$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($250K less)
Honolulu, HI 96818 74%2,613$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33166 73%2,258$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($220K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75220 73%1,175$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($250K less) · newer homes
Framingham, MA 01702 70%2,558$82,496$583,000$340 cheaper homes ($167K less) · 8 min longer commute
Lodi, NJ 07644 70%2,422$89,305$475,000$433 cheaper homes ($275K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Norwalk, CT 06854 69%2,456$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($290K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Key West, FL 33040 69%2,205$86,586$819,400$824 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85013 69%297$71,966$567,700$315 cheaper homes ($182K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96819 69%2,610$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($205K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Beaverton, OR 97005 69%934$78,239$504,300$299 cheaper homes ($246K less)
White Plains, NY 10606 68%2,437$112,270$682,300$492 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Garfield, NJ 07026 66%2,420$79,700$475,500$381 cheaper homes ($275K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
New Rochelle, NY 10801 66%2,437$85,573$575,300$378 cheaper homes ($175K less) · 8 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80223 66%829$79,151$539,900$355 cheaper homes ($210K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85003 66%296$60,461$616,800$389 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Lawrence, MA 01843 65%2,572$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($321K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Lowell, MA 01854 65%2,563$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($338K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Wallington, NJ 07057 65%2,420$85,862$528,300$392 cheaper homes ($222K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28205 65%2,078$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($293K 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.