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.

Reset

Towns most like South Gate, CA 90280

South Gate: median income $74,651, home value $636,300, $484/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lynwood, CA 90262 97%2$75,194$597,600$463 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Los Angeles, CA 90063 93%7$72,942$660,600$521 smaller
Long Beach, CA 90805 93%6$73,415$606,000$536 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Los Angeles, CA 90022 92%6$67,967$629,500$472 smaller · more renters
Compton, CA 90221 92%5$72,937$575,000$572 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
South El Monte, CA 91733 90%12$68,278$621,800$479 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
El Monte, CA 91732 89%14$75,108$644,200$469 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Pomona, CA 91767 88%28$79,245$599,200$462 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · newer homes
Pomona, CA 91768 88%26$76,041$573,200$521 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Oakland, CA 94603 88%344$76,723$614,700$416 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Inglewood, CA 90303 87%8$72,815$793,500$535 pricier homes ($157K more) · smaller
Sun Valley, CA 91352 87%21$78,239$764,800$638 pricier homes ($129K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90047 86%6$71,664$680,600$516 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Compton, CA 90220 86%5$82,335$554,900$505 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Huntington Park, CA 90255 86%2$64,766$579,700$473 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more renters
Bellflower, CA 90706 86%6$78,722$705,700$561 pricier homes ($69K more) · newer homes
Long Beach, CA 90806 86%10$79,208$769,200$571 pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90001 85%3$60,767$560,300$430 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90002 85%3$59,021$534,200$549 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller · younger residents
Whittier, CA 90602 85%10$68,505$766,300$557 pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller
Pacoima, CA 91331 85%25$84,227$633,200$479 more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90059 84%3$56,152$583,900$489 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90062 84%7$67,701$711,400$448 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller · older homes
Compton, CA 90222 84%3$78,425$580,500$581 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Baldwin Park, CA 91706 84%17$81,122$609,000$517 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more homeowners · 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.

From OfferBacked · Free

Get matched with a local agent.

Buying or selling around Columbus, OH? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.

Get matched