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 92114

San Diego: median income $97,794, home value $649,200, $554/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 82%2,468$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller · less walkable
Bay Shore, NY 11706 81%2,462$119,603$494,300$426 cheaper homes ($155K less) · less walkable
Auburn, WA 98001 81%1,045$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · newer homes
Everett, WA 98203 80%1,087$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
West Babylon, NY 11704 79%2,457$129,195$527,500$459 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98031 79%1,050$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98178 79%1,057$99,505$660,400$367 smaller
Brockton, MA 02302 78%2,577$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($224K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98146 78%1,059$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Everett, WA 98208 78%1,083$103,705$691,500$388 pricier homes ($42K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Marysville, WA 98270 78%1,094$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($69K less) · newer homes
Saugus, MA 01906 77%2,576$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older residents
Pearl City, HI 96782 77%2,618$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($225K more) · smaller · older residents
Copiague, NY 11726 76%2,454$128,425$481,500$468 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($168K less) · smaller
Patchogue, NY 11772 76%2,476$105,245$474,800$400 cheaper homes ($174K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Miami, FL 33157 76%2,257$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 7 min longer commute
Port Orchard, WA 98366 76%1,065$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($173K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Uniondale, NY 11553 75%2,444$121,127$511,600$510 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Amityville, NY 11701 75%2,453$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Oregon City, OR 97045 75%921$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($62K less) · newer homes
Puyallup, WA 98371 75%1,039$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller
Methuen, MA 01844 74%2,567$113,212$499,800$341 cheaper homes ($149K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 74%2,251$93,603$495,000$298 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller
Central Islip, NY 11722 73%2,465$114,049$436,600$400 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Lindenhurst, NY 11757 73%2,456$127,889$508,100$439 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · 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.