OfferBackedBuyer Tools
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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 Carlsbad, CA 92008

Carlsbad: median income $104,995, home value $1,229,400, $891/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Clemente, CA 92672 95%26$111,989$1,438,800$978 pricier homes ($209K more)
Miami, FL 33133 90%2,278$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($207K less)
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 90%373$112,106$1,076,500$904 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Arcadia, CA 91007 89%79$100,705$1,277,900$668 pricier homes ($49K more) · older homes
Burbank, CA 91504 89%92$103,835$1,099,600$749 cheaper homes ($130K less) · older homes
Huntington Beach, CA 92648 89%53$130,164$1,239,500$772 higher income ($25K more) · larger
Glendale, CA 91202 88%88$96,459$1,194,700$729 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older homes
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 88%49$114,249$1,105,900$835 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
San Jose, CA 95128 88%387$131,152$1,262,600$897 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($33K more) · older homes
Torrance, CA 90503 87%76$125,912$1,099,700$745 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · older homes
Woodland Hills, CA 91367 87%102$108,653$1,067,000$594 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 87%57$123,257$1,131,500$810 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Monterey, CA 93940 87%348$106,044$1,099,300$725 cheaper homes ($130K less) · 7 min shorter commute
San Rafael, CA 94901 87%442$115,330$1,512,600$730 pricier homes ($283K more) · older homes
Culver City, CA 90230 85%85$107,109$1,019,900$710 cheaper homes ($210K less) · older homes
Torrance, CA 90505 85%74$115,593$1,204,300$820 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older homes
Glendale, CA 91206 85%86$89,188$1,090,600$686 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Tarzana, CA 91356 85%99$107,378$1,229,000$565 Very close on everything we compare
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 85%55$105,110$1,034,100$811 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 85%381$108,591$1,207,200$785 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33143 84%2,275$83,008$857,200$738 cheaper homes ($372K less)
Burbank, CA 91501 84%90$91,936$1,057,600$612 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Encino, CA 91316 83%98$92,311$961,100$586 cheaper homes ($268K less) · 5 min longer commute
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 83%95$116,170$1,520,000$728 pricier homes ($291K more)
San Jose, CA 95133 82%387$142,170$1,082,400$673 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($147K 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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