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 92104

San Diego: median income $94,014, home value $914,700, $761/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Austin, TX 78704 78%1,152$106,897$916,100$507 newer homes
White Plains, NY 10606 77%2,437$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($232K less) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22305 77%2,266$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · older homes
Honolulu, HI 96818 77%2,613$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($247K less)
Seattle, WA 98125 77%1,069$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98144 77%1,060$96,969$901,700$489 more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22204 76%2,264$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($227K less)
Seattle, WA 98122 76%1,062$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($42K more) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80205 75%832$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($265K less)
Seattle, WA 98119 75%1,065$123,551$1,047,600$594 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller
Bellevue, WA 98007 74%1,061$131,109$1,018,100$543 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller
Charleston, SC 29403 73%2,148$66,944$674,000$586 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($241K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33133 73%2,265$103,420$1,022,400$923 pricier homes ($108K more) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
New York, NY 10038 72%2,425$105,419$921,900$1,006 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33143 72%2,262$83,008$857,200$738 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80204 72%828$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($294K less) · newer homes
Honolulu, HI 96822 72%2,609$95,947$1,003,400$551 pricier homes ($89K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98133 72%1,071$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($144K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Waltham, MA 02453 71%2,567$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($210K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33138 71%2,265$75,051$784,700$560 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · older residents
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 70%2,426$94,743$719,600$511 cheaper homes ($195K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98102 70%1,064$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 68%626$83,916$779,200$375 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 67%2,424$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($298K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96813 67%2,610$91,690$819,700$723 cheaper homes ($95K 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.