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 Ysidro, CA 92173

San Ysidro: median income $69,792, home value $535,000, $513/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75220 86%1,172$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Lakewood, WA 98499 86%1,049$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Auburn, WA 98002 81%1,054$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($114K less) · more homeowners
Everett, WA 98204 80%1,094$68,513$414,000$353 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98188 77%1,064$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Fairview, NJ 07022 76%2,426$63,606$511,400$389 smaller · older homes
Kent, WA 98032 76%1,060$82,636$520,800$327 Very close on everything we compare
Miami, FL 33161 75%2,259$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · older homes
Federal Way, WA 98003 75%1,057$75,319$476,600$314 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98444 75%1,047$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($119K less) · more single-family homes
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 74%2,412$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger · older homes
Hialeah, FL 33014 74%2,251$77,338$424,200$327 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98409 74%1,051$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($141K less) · more single-family homes
Lowell, MA 01854 73%2,564$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 73%2,415$65,511$459,200$321 cheaper homes ($76K less) · older homes
Revere, MA 02151 72%2,581$86,969$597,400$421 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Long Branch, NJ 07740 72%2,427$79,870$578,800$453 pricier homes ($44K more)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 72%2,252$66,100$383,400$347 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Reno, NV 89502 72%503$65,328$413,200$310 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Renton, WA 98057 72%1,065$68,552$648,800$376 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller
Elizabeth, NJ 07202 71%2,415$71,250$432,100$318 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Lake Worth, FL 33460 71%2,248$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($130K less) · more single-family homes
Lawrence, MA 01843 70%2,573$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Plainfield, NJ 07060 70%2,405$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · older homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33060 70%2,254$64,819$377,500$330 cheaper homes ($158K less) · more homeowners

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.