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 Los Osos, CA 93402

Los Osos: median income $109,090, home value $806,800, $643/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 86%2,715$115,417$937,100$772 pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller
Fairfield, NJ 07004 86%2,529$115,980$688,500$393 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller
Hailey, ID 83333 84%665$99,704$744,200$566 cheaper homes ($63K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Boca Raton, FL 33486 83%2,476$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · younger residents
Portsmouth, RI 02871 82%2,680$116,831$597,000$392 cheaper homes ($210K less)
Narragansett, RI 02882 82%2,671$95,721$749,700$555 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 9 min longer commute
Belmar, NJ 07719 82%2,547$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Wakefield, RI 02879 79%2,667$112,231$564,700$445 cheaper homes ($242K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
York, ME 03909 79%2,698$115,608$638,400$414 cheaper homes ($168K less) · less walkable
East Hampton, NY 11937 79%2,638$129,883$1,115,100$875 pricier homes ($308K more) · larger · less walkable
Winter Park, FL 32789 79%2,345$106,671$791,400$464 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Boise, ID 83712 78%624$105,574$859,000$416 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · more renters
Phoenix, AZ 85028 78%517$125,054$642,200$365 cheaper homes ($165K less) · 6 min longer commute
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 78%519$123,203$785,700$426 larger
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 77%2,549$123,152$627,200$556 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Edmonds, WA 98020 77%867$130,319$1,031,500$625 pricier homes ($225K more) · 8 min longer commute
Northvale, NJ 07647 76%2,547$128,542$602,800$451 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Neptune Beach, FL 32266 76%2,300$119,294$670,900$391 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704 76%2,293$107,889$753,600$451 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older homes
Salida, CO 81201 76%848$80,248$674,000$428 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Reno, NV 89511 75%289$124,130$916,600$484 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · newer homes
Bend, OR 97703 75%607$120,841$990,400$508 pricier homes ($184K more) · larger · newer homes
Anacortes, WA 98221 75%915$96,528$713,100$419 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · less walkable
Estes Park, CO 80517 74%904$95,404$701,700$415 cheaper homes ($105K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Carbondale, CO 81623 74%796$109,661$913,300$681 pricier homes ($107K more) · 9 min longer commute · 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.