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 Santa Ana, CA 92701

Santa Ana: median income $70,572, home value $660,500, $503/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75220 82%1,212$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($160K less)
Lawrence, MA 01843 76%2,574$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller · older homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07202 76%2,423$71,250$432,100$318 cheaper homes ($228K less) · older homes
Reno, NV 89502 75%411$65,328$413,200$310 cheaper homes ($247K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Wahiawa, HI 96786 74%2,583$85,554$807,900$511 pricier homes ($147K more) · less walkable
Lakewood, WA 98499 74%958$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($252K less) · 6 min longer commute
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 73%2,420$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($290K less) · older homes
Everett, WA 98204 73%1,004$68,513$414,000$353 cheaper homes ($247K less) · newer homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 71%2,422$65,511$459,200$321 cheaper homes ($201K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Fairview, NJ 07022 70%2,434$63,606$511,400$389 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller · older residents
Elizabeth, NJ 07201 70%2,424$60,080$467,500$296 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Paterson, NJ 07503 70%2,425$60,443$350,900$320 cheaper homes ($310K less) · smaller
Lowell, MA 01854 69%2,566$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($249K less) · smaller
Plainfield, NJ 07060 68%2,413$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($267K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Paterson, NJ 07513 68%2,425$68,630$423,500$390 cheaper homes ($237K less) · smaller · older homes
New Brunswick, NJ 08901 68%2,411$65,810$353,800$341 cheaper homes ($307K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98188 68%974$76,438$456,400$323 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85008 67%337$66,353$358,000$288 cheaper homes ($303K less)
Garfield, NJ 07026 66%2,428$79,700$475,500$381 cheaper homes ($185K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Auburn, WA 98002 66%963$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($239K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Hialeah, FL 33014 65%2,302$77,338$424,200$327 cheaper homes ($236K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33161 65%2,309$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($219K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Kent, WA 98032 65%969$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($140K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Everett, WA 98201 65%1,009$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($161K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Roxbury, MA 02119 64%2,579$48,488$688,600$459 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute

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.