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 92115

San Diego: median income $79,199, home value $799,200, $585/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80214 79%824$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($240K less) · smaller · older residents
Wahiawa, HI 96786 78%2,619$85,554$807,900$511 smaller · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28205 76%2,074$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($342K less) · older residents
Long Branch, NJ 07740 75%2,423$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33138 75%2,261$75,051$784,700$560 smaller · older residents
Honolulu, HI 96818 75%2,616$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($131K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33166 73%2,256$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($269K less) · smaller · older residents
Houston, TX 77055 73%1,288$74,369$624,200$278 cheaper homes ($175K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98133 73%1,071$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Denver, CO 80223 72%825$79,151$539,900$355 cheaper homes ($259K less) · smaller · older residents
Bellingham, WA 98225 72%1,140$63,941$631,200$458 cheaper homes ($168K less) · less walkable
Spring Valley, NY 10977 71%2,419$74,451$649,700$403 cheaper homes ($150K less) · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98125 71%1,069$99,868$874,300$489 pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents
Framingham, MA 01702 70%2,554$82,496$583,000$340 cheaper homes ($216K less) · smaller · older residents
Charleston, SC 29403 70%2,145$66,944$674,000$586 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 69%2,420$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75238 69%1,181$82,019$568,700$333 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85013 69%293$71,966$567,700$315 cheaper homes ($232K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85016 69%296$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($234K less) · smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75220 68%1,172$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($299K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 68%1,086$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($299K less) · smaller · older residents
Woburn, MA 01801 67%2,568$111,185$673,500$456 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06854 67%2,452$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($339K less) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80204 67%825$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80222 67%827$86,472$623,400$359 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · 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.