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 92109

San Diego: median income $122,128, home value $1,226,900, $1,117/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98119 82%1,060$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller
Bellevue, WA 98007 79%1,056$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($209K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98102 77%1,059$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($264K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10038 76%2,430$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($305K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33133 75%2,272$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($205K less) · older residents · more homeowners
New York, NY 10016 74%2,431$140,381$905,000$1,232 cheaper homes ($322K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98103 74%1,062$131,154$1,044,100$570 cheaper homes ($183K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98122 74%1,057$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($270K less) · newer homes
Cambridge, MA 02141 73%2,579$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($359K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
New York, NY 10019 73%2,431$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 cheaper homes ($166K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Cambridge, MA 02140 72%2,576$135,286$1,149,800$931 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78704 70%1,159$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($311K less) · newer homes
Boston, MA 02114 67%2,580$132,210$924,400$1,148 cheaper homes ($303K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22305 66%2,271$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($362K less) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98116 66%1,056$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($254K less) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80209 65%833$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($209K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20001 64%2,273$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($374K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33606 64%2,091$120,729$845,600$551 cheaper homes ($381K less) · smaller · younger residents
Redmond, WA 98052 64%1,059$163,460$1,180,600$620 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98107 64%1,062$142,662$953,400$553 cheaper homes ($274K less) · smaller · newer homes
New York, NY 10010 63%2,431$144,969$1,036,200$1,985 cheaper homes ($191K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Boston, MA 02118 62%2,579$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 cheaper homes ($169K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Cambridge, MA 02139 62%2,578$134,586$1,087,500$965 cheaper homes ($139K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Arlington, VA 22201 62%2,269$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($445K less) · newer homes
New York, NY 10065 61%2,432$155,331$1,419,800$1,371 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($193K more) · 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.