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 Kirkland, WA 98033

Kirkland: median income $182,500, home value $1,491,700, $742/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carlsbad, CA 92011 86%1,039$159,235$1,302,600$770 cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller · less walkable
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 83%974$160,236$1,242,700$783 cheaper homes ($249K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Milpitas, CA 95035 83%708$178,654$1,253,200$777 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger
Encinitas, CA 92024 82%1,043$158,507$1,612,000$993 pricier homes ($120K more)
Dallas, TX 75205 80%1,674$181,631$1,706,700$693 pricier homes ($215K more) · smaller · younger residents
San Jose, CA 95131 80%711$170,255$1,164,800$764 cheaper homes ($327K less) · 6 min longer commute
La Jolla, CA 92037 79%1,057$147,230$1,958,700$1,039 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($467K more) · older homes
Irvine, CA 92620 79%993$146,942$1,267,800$801 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($224K less) · larger
Tustin, CA 92782 79%990$146,080$1,149,200$700 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($343K less)
Austin, TX 78703 78%1,765$153,036$1,495,800$565 lower income ($29K less) · smaller · older homes
Boulder, CO 80304 77%991$126,558$1,210,200$619 lower income ($56K less) · cheaper homes ($282K less) · smaller
Irvine, CA 92602 77%990$161,620$1,502,000$877 more renters · newer homes
Houston, TX 77005 76%1,886$229,267$1,395,100$525 higher income ($47K more) · cheaper homes ($97K less)
Los Angeles, CA 90049 76%960$170,607$2M+*$991 pricier homes ($508K more) · older homes
San Diego, CA 92130 76%1,050$205,680$1,748,100$883 pricier homes ($256K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75225 75%1,672$200,234$1,671,900$496 pricier homes ($180K more) · smaller · older residents
Austin, TX 78746 75%1,762$188,414$1,494,300$557 less walkable
Carlsbad, CA 92009 75%1,040$164,182$1,368,100$654 cheaper homes ($124K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Irvine, CA 92604 75%993$133,869$1,058,000$830 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($434K less) · smaller
Houston, TX 77024 74%1,880$136,149$1,127,500$414 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($364K less)
Los Gatos, CA 95032 74%721$203,727$2M+*$1,206 pricier homes ($508K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Cardiff By The Sea, CA 92007 73%1,045$182,629$2M+*$1,307 pricier homes ($508K more) · smaller · less walkable
Vienna, VA 22180 72%2,305$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($550K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92127 72%1,047$195,520$1,232,300$676 cheaper homes ($259K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Fremont, CA 94555 72%698$219,938$1,376,600$962 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($115K less) · 11 min longer commute

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.