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 92107

San Diego: median income $113,117, home value $1,379,900, $964/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33133 77%2,272$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($358K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98119 72%1,063$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($332K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80209 70%835$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($362K less)
Seattle, WA 98103 70%1,066$131,154$1,044,100$570 cheaper homes ($336K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98116 70%1,060$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($407K less) · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 70%1,068$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($506K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Honolulu, HI 96822 68%2,602$95,947$1,003,400$551 cheaper homes ($377K less) · larger · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98005 68%1,059$160,849$1,519,500$613 higher income ($48K more) · pricier homes ($140K more) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98144 68%1,059$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($478K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Greenwich, CT 06830 67%2,451$146,654$1,660,700$858 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($281K more) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85018 67%308$93,885$862,000$517 cheaper homes ($518K less) · more homeowners
Bellevue, WA 98007 67%1,059$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($362K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Austin, TX 78756 66%1,159$94,701$832,000$500 cheaper homes ($548K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33143 65%2,268$83,008$857,200$738 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($523K less) · 7 min longer commute
Alexandria, VA 22305 64%2,272$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($515K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80211 64%835$121,439$807,100$442 cheaper homes ($573K less)
Kailua, HI 96734 63%2,594$132,782$1,367,600$904 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Waltham, MA 02453 61%2,573$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($675K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Austin, TX 78704 61%1,159$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($464K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kirkland, WA 98034 61%1,067$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($434K less) · larger · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98126 61%1,057$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($596K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Boulder, CO 80305 60%833$126,107$1,032,900$578 cheaper homes ($347K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96816 60%2,601$114,609$1,168,800$730 cheaper homes ($211K less) · larger · older residents
Newport, RI 02840 59%2,570$86,250$746,900$643 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($633K less) · more homeowners
Miami Beach, FL 33140 59%2,275$107,063$866,900$623 cheaper homes ($513K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes

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.