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 Westlake Village, CA 91361

Westlake Village: median income $144,900, home value $1,433,300, $676/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 93%269$151,250$1,136,400$649 cheaper homes ($297K less)
San Rafael, CA 94903 91%340$142,083$1,197,300$722 cheaper homes ($236K less) · larger
Aptos, CA 95003 91%260$148,412$1,198,700$764 cheaper homes ($235K less)
Glendale, CA 91208 89%35$136,892$1,421,200$722 older homes
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 89%3$139,800$1,116,500$566 cheaper homes ($317K less) · larger
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 88%306$153,781$1,556,800$812 pricier homes ($124K more)
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 87%78$140,452$1,190,900$731 cheaper homes ($242K less) · larger
Incline Village, NV 89451 86%358$166,509$1,461,200$763 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Edmonds, WA 98020 86%961$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($402K less) · more walkable
Novato, CA 94949 84%340$120,758$1,150,500$576 cheaper homes ($283K less)
Carlsbad, CA 92009 83%116$164,182$1,368,100$654 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · younger residents
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 83%76$133,194$1,063,300$666 cheaper homes ($370K less) · larger · younger residents
Novato, CA 94947 83%344$128,766$1,017,600$602 cheaper homes ($416K less)
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 83%265$153,222$1,228,500$674 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller · younger residents
Miami, FL 33156 82%2,367$137,076$1,120,100$619 cheaper homes ($313K less) · larger · younger residents
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 82%5$163,317$1,116,200$584 cheaper homes ($317K less) · more homeowners
Encinitas, CA 92024 82%118$158,507$1,612,000$993 pricier homes ($179K more) · larger · younger residents
Fullerton, CA 92835 82%56$143,817$1,052,500$603 cheaper homes ($381K less) · younger residents
Honolulu, HI 96825 82%2,519$153,210$1,088,700$759 cheaper homes ($345K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Carlsbad, CA 92011 81%114$159,235$1,302,600$770 cheaper homes ($131K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 81%78$131,175$1,037,300$636 cheaper homes ($396K less) · larger
Anaheim, CA 92808 81%65$158,462$1,069,300$627 cheaper homes ($364K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 81%316$186,225$1,339,900$665 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($93K less)
Bedford, MA 01730 80%2,607$172,400$898,500$496 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($535K less) · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92128 80%129$131,077$927,100$597 cheaper homes ($506K less) · larger · younger 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.

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