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 92103

San Diego: median income $102,626, home value $1,061,200, $755/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98119 85%1,064$123,551$1,047,600$594 younger residents
Miami, FL 33129 82%2,268$113,367$736,300$632 cheaper homes ($325K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33133 82%2,267$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78704 82%1,154$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($145K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Bellevue, WA 98007 81%1,060$131,109$1,018,100$543 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Honolulu, HI 96822 79%2,607$95,947$1,003,400$551 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98102 79%1,063$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($98K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98122 79%1,062$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($104K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98144 79%1,060$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($160K less) · 6 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80206 78%833$101,594$915,400$427 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Miami Beach, FL 33140 77%2,270$107,063$866,900$623 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 76%2,268$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($197K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98125 75%1,069$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($187K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33143 74%2,264$83,008$857,200$738 cheaper homes ($204K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
New York, NY 10038 73%2,427$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · younger residents
Denver, CO 80209 73%831$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96813 73%2,608$91,690$819,700$723 cheaper homes ($242K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98116 73%1,060$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 10 min longer commute · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22204 72%2,266$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($373K less) · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98103 72%1,066$131,154$1,044,100$570 higher income ($29K more) · larger · younger residents
Austin, TX 78756 71%1,154$94,701$832,000$500 cheaper homes ($229K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 70%2,427$94,743$719,600$511 cheaper homes ($342K less) · smaller · 10 min longer commute
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 70%2,080$73,542$637,700$514 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($424K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80205 70%833$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($412K less) · younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 69%2,263$84,920$654,500$480 cheaper homes ($407K less) · smaller · older residents

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.