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 92128

San Diego: median income $131,077, home value $927,100, $597/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Issaquah, WA 98027 91%1,034$153,301$996,600$507 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 90%2,149$111,907$755,100$472 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Kirkland, WA 98034 88%1,051$135,219$946,300$565 younger residents
Bothell, WA 98011 87%1,053$131,667$933,000$486 smaller · younger residents
Mukilteo, WA 98275 87%1,066$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 86%298$123,203$785,700$426 cheaper homes ($141K less) · more single-family homes
Kenmore, WA 98028 86%1,054$139,764$920,800$474 smaller · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33156 85%2,260$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($193K more) · older homes
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 84%909$130,603$837,100$364 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Florham Park, NJ 07932 83%2,394$156,458$791,100$530 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22043 83%2,249$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · younger residents
Houston, TX 77024 83%1,288$136,149$1,127,500$414 pricier homes ($200K more)
Winter Park, FL 32789 82%2,131$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Golden, CO 80401 82%807$118,039$804,500$350 cheaper homes ($123K less) · younger residents
Reno, NV 89511 82%468$124,130$916,600$484 smaller
Morristown, NJ 07960 81%2,389$160,334$735,600$476 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($192K less) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28211 81%2,070$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($152K less) · younger residents
Boca Raton, FL 33486 81%2,254$105,540$664,100$530 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller
Englewood, CO 80111 81%817$135,995$916,500$314 smaller
Natick, MA 01760 80%2,549$138,563$821,300$454 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Dallas, TX 75230 80%1,174$110,956$931,500$359 smaller
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 80%303$140,616$1,036,800$526 pricier homes ($110K more) · older residents · newer homes
Woodinville, WA 98072 80%1,054$175,805$1,122,200$544 higher income ($45K more) · pricier homes ($195K more) · smaller
Bedford, MA 01730 79%2,553$172,400$898,500$496 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 79%2,096$117,724$582,400$386 cheaper homes ($345K less) · 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.