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 Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Costa Mesa: median income $114,249, home value $1,105,900, $835/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33133 79%2,314$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Seattle, WA 98125 79%996$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($232K less)
Honolulu, HI 96822 77%2,573$95,947$1,003,400$551 cheaper homes ($103K less) · more homeowners
Key West, FL 33040 75%2,257$86,586$819,400$824 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($287K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98133 75%998$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($336K less) · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98144 75%988$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85018 74%341$93,885$862,000$517 cheaper homes ($244K less) · more homeowners
Woburn, MA 01801 73%2,580$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($432K less) · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96818 73%2,577$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($438K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33143 71%2,310$83,008$857,200$738 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($249K less) · smaller
Kirkland, WA 98034 71%995$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($160K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98116 71%988$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
White Plains, NY 10606 70%2,450$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($424K less) · smaller
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 69%2,438$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($490K less)
Miami, FL 33138 69%2,313$75,051$784,700$560 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($321K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96816 69%2,572$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($63K more) · older residents · more homeowners
West Harrison, NY 10604 68%2,451$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($370K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96813 68%2,574$91,690$819,700$723 cheaper homes ($286K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96819 68%2,575$99,848$954,600$477 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Seattle, WA 98118 68%984$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($295K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Port Chester, NY 10573 67%2,455$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($443K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33134 67%2,310$99,766$711,800$594 cheaper homes ($394K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Kailua, HI 96734 67%2,565$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($262K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Bellevue, WA 98007 67%988$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Renton, WA 98056 67%981$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($309K less) · 7 min longer commute · 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.