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 92123

San Diego: median income $132,534, home value $865,600, $626/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waltham, MA 02452 81%2,567$118,431$808,300$429 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Kirkland, WA 98034 81%1,064$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Woburn, MA 01801 80%2,570$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($192K less) · 5 min longer commute
West Harrison, NY 10604 79%2,438$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Honolulu, HI 96818 78%2,613$100,567$667,900$576 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger
Bothell, WA 98011 78%1,067$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($67K more) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 78%1,066$99,868$874,300$489 lower income ($33K less) · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98106 76%1,054$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($159K less) · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 75%2,423$96,725$616,300$447 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($249K less) · older residents
Honolulu, HI 96822 75%2,609$95,947$1,003,400$551 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($138K more) · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98007 75%1,057$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($153K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Waltham, MA 02451 74%2,565$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85018 74%302$93,885$862,000$517 lower income ($39K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 74%1,071$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($199K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
White Plains, NY 10606 73%2,436$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28211 73%2,077$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Renton, WA 98056 73%1,050$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 9 min longer commute
Norwalk, CT 06850 72%2,454$123,633$581,200$390 cheaper homes ($284K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97225 72%928$114,598$751,700$319 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Seattle, WA 98133 72%1,067$93,662$770,300$459 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98144 72%1,057$96,969$901,700$489 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($36K more) · 7 min longer commute
Falls Church, VA 22043 71%2,258$145,881$881,600$456 more homeowners
Elmsford, NY 10523 70%2,434$118,438$588,100$449 cheaper homes ($278K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22204 70%2,263$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Englewood, CO 80113 70%826$96,590$709,100$408 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($157K 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.