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 La Mesa, CA 91941

La Mesa: median income $115,381, home value $928,700, $525/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 96%147$119,296$937,000$551 Very close on everything we compare
San Diego, CA 92119 94%3$113,435$879,200$605 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Ventura, CA 93004 93%162$114,012$800,900$505 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Petaluma, CA 94952 93%495$117,343$1,041,100$656 pricier homes ($112K more)
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 93%506$105,437$903,900$522 Very close on everything we compare
Seattle, WA 98155 93%1,072$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Orange, CA 92867 92%87$130,741$1,015,000$661 pricier homes ($86K more)
Martinez, CA 94553 92%462$124,130$825,900$473 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 92%1,078$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Seattle, WA 98166 92%1,053$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Novato, CA 94947 91%484$128,766$1,017,600$602 pricier homes ($89K more) · older residents
Claremont, CA 91711 90%102$126,056$894,300$503 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Orange, CA 92869 90%84$138,204$994,400$645 pricier homes ($66K more)
Placentia, CA 92870 90%91$115,929$921,000$604 larger
Concord, CA 94518 90%456$112,094$859,000$522 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 7 min longer commute
Cypress, CA 90630 89%94$130,154$909,700$602 Very close on everything we compare
Chatsworth, CA 91311 89%138$119,386$876,400$464 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Orange, CA 92865 89%88$127,431$872,700$571 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Camarillo, CA 93010 89%155$111,176$867,100$495 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Simi Valley, CA 93063 89%144$125,098$816,800$480 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Simi Valley, CA 93065 89%145$120,519$829,000$488 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · newer homes
Benicia, CA 94510 89%467$121,204$810,000$431 cheaper homes ($119K less) · newer homes
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 89%505$118,299$788,000$455 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Pearl City, HI 96782 89%2,620$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 89%1,056$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($249K less)

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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