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 South San Francisco, CA 94080

South San Francisco: median income $136,733, home value $1,188,700, $848/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kailua, HI 96734 87%2,382$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($179K more)
Honolulu, HI 96816 86%2,390$114,609$1,168,800$730 more walkable
Kaneohe, HI 96744 82%2,385$131,653$1,039,900$690 cheaper homes ($149K less) · more homeowners
Pearl City, HI 96782 80%2,393$108,669$874,200$603 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($315K less) · smaller
Aiea, HI 96701 79%2,392$111,173$941,600$542 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($247K less) · smaller
Mililani, HI 96789 71%2,394$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($268K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Kirkland, WA 98034 70%695$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($242K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Edmonds, WA 98026 69%703$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($367K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Waipahu, HI 96797 68%2,396$114,654$826,300$635 cheaper homes ($362K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98155 68%698$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($372K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96819 67%2,391$99,848$954,600$477 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($234K less)
Woburn, MA 01801 66%2,690$111,185$673,500$456 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($515K less) · smaller
Danvers, MA 01923 66%2,699$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($545K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33156 66%2,588$137,076$1,120,100$619 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98118 66%683$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($378K less) · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98166 66%677$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($364K less) · smaller
Greenwich, CT 06830 65%2,584$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($472K more) · smaller
Waltham, MA 02451 64%2,686$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($436K less) · smaller · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98146 64%680$102,520$679,500$451 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($509K less) · smaller
Belmar, NJ 07719 63%2,573$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($488K less) · smaller · older residents
Glen Cove, NY 11542 63%2,586$93,242$702,400$499 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($486K less) · smaller
Kahului, HI 96732 63%2,338$101,739$864,300$640 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($324K less) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06851 62%2,594$111,341$587,400$407 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($601K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22042 62%2,430$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($473K less) · smaller · younger residents
Renton, WA 98056 62%681$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($391K less) · smaller · newer homes

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.