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 92113

San Diego: median income $61,819, home value $614,300, $501/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75220 81%1,175$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($114K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Aurora, CO 80010 81%837$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($190K less)
Lake Worth, FL 33460 78%2,253$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($209K less) · more homeowners
Lakewood, WA 98499 78%1,039$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($206K less)
Miami, FL 33161 76%2,263$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($173K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98444 75%1,037$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($198K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85006 74%298$58,248$408,100$311 cheaper homes ($206K less) · smaller
Sparks, NV 89431 74%496$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($249K less) · more homeowners
Reno, NV 89502 74%493$65,328$413,200$310 cheaper homes ($201K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 73%2,412$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($243K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98409 73%1,041$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Wahiawa, HI 96786 71%2,616$85,554$807,900$511 pricier homes ($194K more) · less walkable
Portland, OR 97233 71%931$60,198$414,600$267 cheaper homes ($200K less) · more homeowners
Everett, WA 98201 71%1,089$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · older residents
Lawrence, MA 01843 70%2,572$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33150 70%2,262$40,873$453,400$404 cheaper homes ($161K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Salem, OR 97301 70%903$60,422$341,000$260 cheaper homes ($273K less) · more homeowners
Plainfield, NJ 07060 69%2,405$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($221K less) · older homes
Miami, FL 33127 69%2,263$41,230$408,800$464 cheaper homes ($206K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85007 69%296$63,616$480,600$340 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Gresham, OR 97030 69%930$69,239$435,700$254 cheaper homes ($179K less) · more homeowners
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 68%2,258$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($237K less) · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33147 68%2,261$50,704$381,000$374 cheaper homes ($233K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85008 68%301$66,353$358,000$288 cheaper homes ($256K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85021 68%297$59,768$470,400$321 cheaper homes ($144K less)

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.