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.

Reset

Towns most like Santa Ana, CA 92703

Santa Ana: median income $84,437, home value $618,600, $640/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hempstead, NY 11550 80%2,457$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($154K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Seattle, WA 98168 80%976$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96819 78%2,575$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($336K more) · older residents
Linden, NJ 07036 77%2,424$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($201K less) · older residents · older homes
Seattle, WA 98198 76%970$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98002 74%963$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($197K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 74%1,009$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
Dover, NJ 07801 72%2,408$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($226K less) · smaller
Revere, MA 02151 71%2,586$86,969$597,400$421 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 71%2,307$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($195K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Kent, WA 98030 71%969$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · newer homes
Brockton, MA 02301 70%2,585$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($169K less) · older homes
Paterson, NJ 07502 70%2,426$76,790$375,300$381 cheaper homes ($243K less) · smaller · older homes
Long Branch, NJ 07740 70%2,439$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 70%2,307$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller · older residents
Lake Worth, FL 33460 70%2,300$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98409 70%960$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($224K less) · smaller
Lynn, MA 01905 69%2,587$84,333$499,200$377 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Hollywood, FL 33024 69%2,305$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($209K less) · more homeowners
Spring Valley, NY 10977 68%2,433$74,451$649,700$403 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Miami, FL 33161 68%2,312$58,325$441,700$405 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($177K less)
Miami, FL 33162 68%2,311$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($215K less)
Wahiawa, HI 96786 68%2,580$85,554$807,900$511 pricier homes ($189K more) · smaller · younger residents
Taunton, MA 02780 67%2,583$74,471$413,900$326 cheaper homes ($205K less) · less walkable
Norwalk, CT 06854 67%2,465$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes

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.