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.

Reset

Towns most like San Diego, CA 92129

San Diego: median income $156,321, home value $1,109,600, $659/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woodinville, WA 98072 92%1,056$175,805$1,122,200$544 smaller
Issaquah, WA 98027 91%1,036$153,301$996,600$507 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller
Park City, UT 84098 84%617$174,119$1,207,200$685 pricier homes ($98K more) · smaller · newer homes
Kenmore, WA 98028 84%1,056$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Bedford, MA 01730 81%2,557$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 81%306$140,616$1,036,800$526 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older residents · newer homes
Miami, FL 33156 80%2,263$137,076$1,120,100$619 smaller · more walkable · older homes
Austin, TX 78746 80%1,149$188,414$1,494,300$557 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($385K more) · smaller
Bellevue, WA 98006 80%1,042$198,150$1,388,500$592 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($279K more)
Andover, MA 01810 77%2,563$172,606$855,600$412 cheaper homes ($254K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Reno, NV 89511 77%469$124,130$916,600$484 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller
Kirkland, WA 98034 77%1,053$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($163K less) · more renters · more walkable
Mukilteo, WA 98275 77%1,068$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($225K less) · smaller
Brentwood, TN 37027 76%1,733$154,578$931,700$346 cheaper homes ($178K less)
Nashville, TN 37215 76%1,731$155,863$1,046,500$413 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Bothell, WA 98021 76%1,058$183,786$967,700$475 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($142K less) · 8 min longer commute
Burlington, MA 01803 75%2,561$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($369K less) · smaller · older homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 75%302$123,203$785,700$426 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($324K less) · older residents
Kailua, HI 96734 75%2,603$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($258K more) · older homes
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 74%2,152$111,907$755,100$472 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($355K less)
Scottsdale, AZ 85259 74%308$137,895$1,011,200$421 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · older residents
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 74%909$149,236$1,047,500$444 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98008 74%1,045$184,583$1,206,200$671 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller
Redmond, WA 98053 74%1,046$192,292$1,213,600$615 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller
Natick, MA 01760 73%2,553$138,563$821,300$454 cheaper homes ($288K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes

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.