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 Grover Beach, CA 93433

Grover Beach: median income $86,458, home value $727,500, $543/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Hackensack, NJ 07606 81%2,537$84,527$546,500$484 cheaper homes ($181K less) · smaller
Delray Beach, FL 33444 80%2,462$72,925$464,100$450 cheaper homes ($263K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 79%2,468$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($229K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Key West, FL 33040 78%2,422$86,586$819,400$824 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98108 78%863$95,780$720,400$423 larger · 7 min longer commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 76%2,466$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($258K less) · larger
Honolulu, HI 96819 76%2,442$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($227K more) · larger · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98168 76%859$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98148 75%856$87,342$607,900$331 cheaper homes ($120K less) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 74%909$89,627$609,800$331 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97216 74%725$70,442$450,800$329 cheaper homes ($277K less) · 6 min longer commute
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 74%880$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Hyannis, MA 02601 73%2,723$61,143$440,100$406 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($287K less)
Gladstone, OR 97027 73%717$94,375$484,200$285 cheaper homes ($243K less) · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97222 73%720$83,119$490,900$316 cheaper homes ($237K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98465 73%844$73,226$593,300$341 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33138 72%2,473$75,051$784,700$560 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33166 72%2,468$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($197K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
West Palm Beach, FL 33405 72%2,457$87,341$467,100$631 cheaper homes ($260K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Tacoma, WA 98466 72%842$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Marathon, FL 33050 71%2,459$94,898$747,300$686 older residents · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Beaverton, OR 97078 71%723$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($249K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98146 71%860$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 70%510$86,962$506,300$368 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97008 70%723$96,116$578,100$338 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger

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.