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 Imperial Beach, CA 91932

Imperial Beach: median income $85,833, home value $856,900, $587/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Anaheim, CA 92802 93%97$84,419$790,600$546 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Anaheim, CA 92806 93%97$97,265$837,900$573 larger
Fullerton, CA 92832 93%101$94,275$829,800$676 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Buena Park, CA 90621 92%103$97,612$832,000$556 Very close on everything we compare
San Diego, CA 92102 92%9$77,248$750,000$688 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Orange, CA 92866 92%94$79,886$922,400$811 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
San Jose, CA 95116 92%425$85,818$860,900$635 larger
San Pedro, CA 90731 91%105$76,395$851,000$546 larger
Anaheim, CA 92801 90%100$83,725$691,400$552 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger
Garden Grove, CA 92844 90%96$79,701$753,900$590 cheaper homes ($103K less) · older residents
Concord, CA 94520 90%465$82,479$601,000$468 cheaper homes ($256K less)
Escondido, CA 92025 89%37$81,106$827,900$479 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more homeowners
Anaheim, CA 92805 89%98$91,252$736,600$541 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Orange, CA 92868 89%94$97,500$762,000$545 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Van Nuys, CA 91406 88%137$78,429$808,900$571 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Salinas, CA 93901 88%383$91,233$788,300$513 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more homeowners
Downey, CA 90241 87%111$88,006$829,000$598 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Gardena, CA 90247 87%114$77,333$659,100$453 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger
Hawthorne, CA 90250 87%117$78,331$874,600$722 larger
Inglewood, CA 90302 87%120$73,777$738,900$459 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Bellflower, CA 90706 87%108$78,722$705,700$561 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger
Van Nuys, CA 91411 87%135$74,617$1,017,900$676 pricier homes ($161K more)
North Hollywood, CA 91606 87%133$66,200$832,900$614 larger
Covina, CA 91723 87%113$94,167$717,300$501 cheaper homes ($140K less) · more homeowners
El Cajon, CA 92020 87%17$76,032$813,100$522 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more homeowners

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