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 92105

San Diego: median income $68,563, home value $635,600, $595/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75220 86%1,173$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Wahiawa, HI 96786 83%2,617$85,554$807,900$511 pricier homes ($172K more) · smaller · less walkable
Long Branch, NJ 07740 78%2,425$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33161 76%2,262$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($194K less) · 7 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80214 76%825$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 76%1,087$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · older residents
Spring Valley, NY 10977 75%2,421$74,451$649,700$403 younger residents · more homeowners · less walkable
Lake Worth, FL 33460 75%2,252$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($230K less) · smaller
Lakewood, WA 98499 75%1,036$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($227K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80010 74%834$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller
Reno, NV 89502 74%490$65,328$413,200$310 cheaper homes ($222K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85021 73%295$59,768$470,400$321 cheaper homes ($165K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98188 73%1,052$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller
Framingham, MA 01702 72%2,555$82,496$583,000$340 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 72%2,410$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($265K less)
Lowell, MA 01854 71%2,560$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($224K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Plainfield, NJ 07060 71%2,402$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($242K less) · older homes
Honolulu, HI 96817 71%2,612$75,476$916,100$590 pricier homes ($281K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Kent, WA 98032 71%1,047$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98409 71%1,038$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($241K less) · smaller
Vancouver, WA 98661 71%939$76,913$451,500$289 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Lawrence, MA 01843 70%2,569$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($207K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85008 70%299$66,353$358,000$288 cheaper homes ($278K less)
Beaverton, OR 97005 70%932$78,239$504,300$299 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06854 69%2,453$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller · more homeowners

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.