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 92120

San Diego: median income $120,661, home value $924,900, $654/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kirkland, WA 98034 92%1,065$135,219$946,300$565 larger
Seattle, WA 98155 87%1,069$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Miami, FL 33156 86%2,259$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($195K more) · older residents
Kailua, HI 96734 86%2,605$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($443K more) · larger
Kenmore, WA 98028 86%1,068$139,764$920,800$474 newer homes
Waltham, MA 02451 85%2,562$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · more walkable
Boca Raton, FL 33486 84%2,254$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($261K less) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75214 84%1,178$132,313$777,100$431 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Golden, CO 80401 84%816$118,039$804,500$350 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Seattle, WA 98126 84%1,056$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($141K less) · more walkable
Falls Church, VA 22043 83%2,255$145,881$881,600$456 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($43K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Winter Park, FL 32789 83%2,132$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($134K less) · older residents
Stoneham, MA 02180 82%2,569$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($253K less) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85018 82%298$93,885$862,000$517 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($63K less) · more walkable
Issaquah, WA 98027 82%1,048$153,301$996,600$507 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($72K more) · newer homes
Morristown, NJ 07960 81%2,395$160,334$735,600$476 higher income ($40K more) · cheaper homes ($189K less)
Bothell, WA 98011 81%1,068$131,667$933,000$486 newer homes
Natick, MA 01760 80%2,556$138,563$821,300$454 cheaper homes ($104K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Falls Church, VA 22042 80%2,255$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($209K less) · more walkable
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 80%2,151$111,907$755,100$472 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger · newer homes
Edmonds, WA 98026 80%1,075$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($103K less) · older residents
Mukilteo, WA 98275 80%1,080$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98106 79%1,055$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($218K less)
Seattle, WA 98118 79%1,055$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Westborough, MA 01581 78%2,543$141,944$685,300$394 cheaper homes ($240K 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.