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 92627

Costa Mesa: median income $108,994, home value $1,125,600, $866/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honolulu, HI 96818 77%2,577$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($458K less) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33133 74%2,314$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96822 74%2,572$95,947$1,003,400$551 cheaper homes ($122K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 73%998$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($251K less)
Key West, FL 33040 72%2,257$86,586$819,400$824 cheaper homes ($306K less) · smaller · older residents
White Plains, NY 10606 71%2,451$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($443K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98133 71%1,000$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($355K less) · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98144 70%990$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($224K less) · smaller
Woburn, MA 01801 67%2,582$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($452K less) · more homeowners
Port Chester, NY 10573 67%2,456$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($463K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 67%2,285$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($261K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33138 67%2,313$75,051$784,700$560 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($341K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33143 67%2,311$83,008$857,200$738 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($268K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96813 67%2,573$91,690$819,700$723 cheaper homes ($306K less) · smaller · older residents
Honolulu, HI 96819 67%2,574$99,848$954,600$477 cheaper homes ($171K less) · more homeowners
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 66%2,439$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($509K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85018 66%341$93,885$862,000$517 cheaper homes ($264K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96817 66%2,574$75,476$916,100$590 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($210K less) · older residents
Arlington, VA 22204 65%2,283$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($438K less)
Bellevue, WA 98007 65%990$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller
Waltham, MA 02453 64%2,578$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($421K less) · smaller · older homes
West Harrison, NY 10604 64%2,453$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($390K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98119 64%994$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Waltham, MA 02452 63%2,579$118,431$808,300$429 cheaper homes ($317K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Avon, CO 81620 63%754$102,775$861,500$950 cheaper homes ($264K less) · smaller · 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.