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 San Diego, CA 92119

San Diego: median income $113,435, home value $879,200, $605/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boca Raton, FL 33486 92%2,251$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($215K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 91%1,069$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Belmar, NJ 07719 90%2,416$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($178K less) · older residents
Winter Park, FL 32789 89%2,129$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Stoneham, MA 02180 88%2,567$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($207K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 87%1,075$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Waltham, MA 02451 86%2,559$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Honolulu, HI 96816 86%2,614$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($290K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98166 86%1,050$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Miami, FL 33156 85%2,257$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($241K more)
Burlington, MA 01803 84%2,562$146,436$740,600$441 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($139K less)
Danvers, MA 01923 84%2,575$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($235K less)
Dedham, MA 02026 84%2,564$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($217K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704 83%2,071$107,889$753,600$451 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller · older residents
Aiea, HI 96701 83%2,619$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98407 83%1,041$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($223K less) · more walkable
Golden, CO 80401 82%814$118,039$804,500$350 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Edmonds, WA 98020 82%1,074$130,319$1,031,500$625 pricier homes ($152K more) · older residents
Kenmore, WA 98028 82%1,068$139,764$920,800$474 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($42K more) · newer homes
Mukilteo, WA 98275 82%1,080$132,861$884,900$418 newer homes
Caldwell, NJ 07006 81%2,404$149,102$694,400$434 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($185K less)
Carbondale, CO 81623 81%706$109,661$913,300$681 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85018 81%295$93,885$862,000$517 larger · more renters
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 81%298$123,203$785,700$426 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · newer homes
Pearl City, HI 96782 81%2,620$108,669$874,200$603 larger

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.