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 Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Santa Cruz: median income $108,591, home value $1,207,200, $785/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kailua, HI 96734 87%2,385$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($160K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85018 83%621$93,885$862,000$517 cheaper homes ($345K less)
Honolulu, HI 96816 83%2,393$114,609$1,168,800$730 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Kirkland, WA 98034 83%738$135,219$946,300$565 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($261K less)
Seattle, WA 98125 81%738$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($333K less)
Seattle, WA 98118 79%726$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($397K less) · 7 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98126 78%727$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($424K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33133 77%2,568$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($185K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Waltham, MA 02451 76%2,689$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($454K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96822 74%2,393$95,947$1,003,400$551 cheaper homes ($204K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Woburn, MA 01801 73%2,692$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($534K less)
Miami, FL 33143 73%2,566$83,008$857,200$738 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($350K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98144 73%729$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($306K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Englewood, CO 80113 72%946$96,590$709,100$408 cheaper homes ($498K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98116 72%729$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($234K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98133 72%740$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($437K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Winter Park, FL 32789 71%2,418$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($416K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33156 70%2,567$137,076$1,120,100$619 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($87K less) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75214 70%1,462$132,313$777,100$431 cheaper homes ($430K less)
Boise, ID 83702 70%552$85,733$777,100$469 cheaper homes ($430K less) · smaller · older residents
Renton, WA 98056 70%724$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($410K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98106 70%726$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($501K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98108 70%726$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($487K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98155 70%741$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($391K less) · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33134 69%2,565$99,766$711,800$594 cheaper homes ($495K less) · older residents

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.