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 92108

San Diego: median income $103,884, home value $618,700, $563/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33132 94%2,267$109,109$524,300$550 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Tampa, FL 33602 91%2,084$97,320$653,100$431 pricier homes ($34K more)
Miami, FL 33137 88%2,266$94,036$616,800$672 Very close on everything we compare
Stamford, CT 06901 80%2,449$102,641$478,700$463 cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller · more renters
Charlotte, NC 28202 80%2,074$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75201 78%1,179$103,761$688,100$614 pricier homes ($69K more) · more renters · more walkable
Denver, CO 80202 78%829$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($104K more) · more walkable
Denver, CO 80204 77%827$84,829$620,500$401 more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98122 77%1,060$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($338K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19123 76%2,365$102,106$539,500$326 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 7 min longer commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 76%2,262$124,812$884,800$542 pricier homes ($266K more) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75204 75%1,180$92,253$479,500$314 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Dallas, TX 75206 75%1,181$91,023$615,400$363 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30312 73%1,886$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($88K less) · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75219 72%1,178$102,364$388,600$304 cheaper homes ($230K less)
Houston, TX 77027 72%1,296$103,812$859,500$362 pricier homes ($241K more)
Seattle, WA 98101 72%1,060$128,882$784,200$657 pricier homes ($166K more) · smaller · more renters
Arlington, VA 22203 71%2,263$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($208K more)
Atlanta, GA 30308 71%1,886$85,693$390,200$359 cheaper homes ($229K less)
Austin, TX 78704 71%1,153$106,897$916,100$507 pricier homes ($297K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 71%622$72,735$499,300$474 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97209 71%929$80,301$587,300$343 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more walkable
Washington, DC 20001 70%2,268$138,059$852,600$552 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($234K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22209 70%2,265$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($201K more) · smaller · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22311 70%2,262$87,626$760,300$379 pricier homes ($142K more) · older homes

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.