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 92154

San Diego: median income $94,901, home value $639,200, $448/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98198 90%1,060$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98030 87%1,058$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98031 86%1,058$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98208 86%1,092$103,705$691,500$388 pricier homes ($52K more)
Hollywood, FL 33024 85%2,253$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($230K less)
Federal Way, WA 98023 85%1,055$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Waipahu, HI 96797 84%2,619$114,654$826,300$635 pricier homes ($187K more) · older residents
Lynnwood, WA 98036 84%1,087$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98168 83%1,066$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · older homes
Everett, WA 98203 83%1,095$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33186 82%2,252$93,462$465,400$338 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Denver, CO 80229 82%843$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($222K less)
Lakewood, WA 98498 82%1,048$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Attleboro, MA 02703 81%2,567$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96819 81%2,612$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($315K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Lynnwood, WA 98037 81%1,089$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller
Methuen, MA 01844 80%2,573$113,212$499,800$341 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · older homes
Miami, FL 33157 80%2,258$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($92K less) · 5 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33176 80%2,255$86,354$638,900$426 smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 80%2,255$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($216K less) · smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80233 80%843$88,880$465,400$232 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97236 80%938$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($203K less) · smaller
Bremerton, WA 98312 80%1,077$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller
Marysville, WA 98270 79%1,103$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more single-family homes
Puyallup, WA 98371 79%1,047$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($82K 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.