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 Luis Obispo, CA 93401

San Luis Obispo: median income $96,824, home value $973,000, $656/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85018 89%509$93,885$862,000$517 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Boise, ID 83702 85%625$85,733$777,100$469 cheaper homes ($196K less)
Honolulu, HI 96822 84%2,441$95,947$1,003,400$551 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Bozeman, MT 59715 83%877$88,407$848,400$466 cheaper homes ($125K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98125 83%865$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Englewood, CO 80113 81%911$96,590$709,100$408 cheaper homes ($264K less) · older homes
Key West, FL 33040 80%2,425$86,586$819,400$824 cheaper homes ($154K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98144 79%856$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 10 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78756 78%1,370$94,701$832,000$500 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller
Reno, NV 89509 78%296$86,126$703,700$385 cheaper homes ($269K less)
Miami, FL 33133 76%2,477$103,420$1,022,400$923 pricier homes ($49K more) · 10 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33143 76%2,474$83,008$857,200$738 cheaper homes ($116K less) · 11 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98133 76%866$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78757 75%1,370$103,860$655,900$427 cheaper homes ($317K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Boulder, CO 80301 75%905$95,207$793,200$376 cheaper homes ($180K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Woburn, MA 01801 74%2,670$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($300K less) · 8 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33138 74%2,476$75,051$784,700$560 cheaper homes ($188K less) · 9 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37206 74%1,894$96,169$600,200$362 cheaper homes ($373K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85016 74%506$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($408K less)
Charlotte, NC 28209 73%2,231$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($350K less)
Winter Park, FL 32789 73%2,334$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($182K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80222 73%913$86,472$623,400$359 cheaper homes ($350K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 73%610$83,916$779,200$375 cheaper homes ($194K less) · older homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 73%512$97,177$698,200$400 cheaper homes ($275K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96813 73%2,442$91,690$819,700$723 cheaper homes ($153K less) · older residents · 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.