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 92122

San Diego: median income $105,177, home value $1,046,300, $742/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Austin, TX 78704 90%1,157$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Bellevue, WA 98007 86%1,052$131,109$1,018,100$543 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33606 85%2,089$120,729$845,600$551 cheaper homes ($201K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98122 85%1,054$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98119 77%1,056$123,551$1,047,600$594 smaller · more walkable · older homes
Boulder, CO 80303 75%827$78,555$961,900$467 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98102 75%1,055$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28209 72%2,077$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($423K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22203 71%2,265$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30305 71%1,888$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($309K less) · smaller · older residents
Arlington, VA 22209 70%2,267$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($226K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Redmond, WA 98052 70%1,055$163,460$1,180,600$620 higher income ($58K more) · pricier homes ($134K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20001 69%2,270$138,059$852,600$552 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($194K less) · 8 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22201 69%2,266$145,000$781,600$625 higher income ($40K more) · cheaper homes ($265K less) · 8 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75206 69%1,185$91,023$615,400$363 cheaper homes ($431K less)
Austin, TX 78751 69%1,159$80,915$852,000$470 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · more walkable
Denver, CO 80206 69%830$101,594$915,400$427 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller · older residents
Cambridge, MA 02141 68%2,575$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28203 68%2,076$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($339K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98103 68%1,058$131,154$1,044,100$570 higher income ($26K more) · 5 min longer commute · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98107 68%1,058$142,662$953,400$553 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22202 67%2,268$133,762$899,000$453 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33129 67%2,271$113,367$736,300$632 cheaper homes ($310K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98105 67%1,057$74,349$1,312,100$578 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($266K more) · younger residents
Miami, FL 33133 66%2,270$103,420$1,022,400$923 older residents · 7 min longer commute · 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.