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 92126

San Diego: median income $126,913, home value $865,400, $643/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kirkland, WA 98034 92%1,056$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($81K more)
Bothell, WA 98011 85%1,059$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Renton, WA 98056 83%1,042$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98106 82%1,046$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Woburn, MA 01801 80%2,566$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98125 78%1,058$99,868$874,300$489 lower income ($27K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28211 77%2,075$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Golden, CO 80401 77%814$118,039$804,500$350 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98118 77%1,046$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85018 76%300$93,885$862,000$517 lower income ($33K less) · smaller · older homes
Kailua, HI 96734 76%2,602$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($502K more) · smaller · older homes
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 75%2,154$111,907$755,100$472 cheaper homes ($110K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Lynnwood, WA 98037 74%1,065$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Waltham, MA 02451 73%2,562$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · older homes
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 73%2,419$96,725$616,300$447 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($249K less) · smaller
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 73%1,063$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98133 73%1,059$93,662$770,300$459 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($95K less) · more walkable
Falls Church, VA 22043 72%2,255$145,881$881,600$456 smaller
Portland, OR 97223 72%916$106,757$600,300$312 cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller
Kenmore, WA 98028 72%1,059$139,764$920,800$474 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Fairfax, VA 22030 71%2,248$139,831$740,400$347 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Dallas, TX 75214 71%1,181$132,313$777,100$431 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · older homes
Aiea, HI 96701 71%2,613$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · older residents
Mililani, HI 96789 71%2,616$127,066$920,400$602 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Honolulu, HI 96822 71%2,610$95,947$1,003,400$551 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($138K more) · smaller

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.