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 92124

San Diego: median income $120,201, home value $918,500, $578/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waltham, MA 02452 87%2,564$118,431$808,300$429 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Bothell, WA 98011 83%1,066$131,667$933,000$486 older residents · newer homes
Kirkland, WA 98034 81%1,063$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more homeowners
Bellevue, WA 98007 79%1,056$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($100K more) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
West Harrison, NY 10604 78%2,435$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28211 78%2,075$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($144K less) · older residents
Boca Raton, FL 33431 78%2,255$107,896$640,700$427 cheaper homes ($278K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 78%1,065$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more walkable
Falls Church, VA 22043 76%2,256$145,881$881,600$456 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 75%2,420$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($302K less) · older residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 75%2,329$100,697$613,600$349 cheaper homes ($305K less) · older residents
Honolulu, HI 96822 75%2,611$95,947$1,003,400$551 pricier homes ($85K more) · older residents
Woburn, MA 01801 74%2,567$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($245K less) · older residents · more walkable
Charlotte, NC 28209 74%2,071$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($296K less) · more walkable
Atlanta, GA 30342 74%1,882$124,111$829,400$318 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Austin, TX 78759 74%1,149$102,400$674,000$332 cheaper homes ($245K less) · older residents
Boulder, CO 80301 74%827$95,207$793,200$376 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Honolulu, HI 96818 74%2,615$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($251K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98106 74%1,053$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($212K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Norwalk, CT 06850 73%2,451$123,633$581,200$390 cheaper homes ($337K less) · smaller · older residents
Golden, CO 80401 73%816$118,039$804,500$350 cheaper homes ($114K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Portsmouth, NH 03801 72%2,585$106,756$699,900$534 cheaper homes ($219K less) · older residents · older homes
Austin, TX 78704 72%1,151$106,897$916,100$507 larger · more renters · more walkable
Austin, TX 78723 72%1,154$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($356K less) · more walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85018 72%299$93,885$862,000$517 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($57K less) · 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.