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 Capistrano Beach, CA 92624

Capistrano Beach: median income $140,666, home value $1,226,200, $1,085/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 87%346$153,222$1,228,500$674 Very close on everything we compare
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 85%387$153,781$1,556,800$812 pricier homes ($331K more) · larger
Montauk, NY 11954 84%2,539$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Saint Helena, CA 94574 84%440$139,474$1,637,800$1,017 pricier homes ($412K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Soquel, CA 95073 84%344$118,169$1,062,800$699 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger
Aptos, CA 95003 82%341$148,412$1,198,700$764 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Pacifica, CA 94044 81%395$160,408$1,249,800$896 larger
Glendale, CA 91208 80%60$136,892$1,421,200$722 pricier homes ($195K more) · larger
Millbrae, CA 94030 80%391$163,476$1,934,900$1,125 pricier homes ($709K more) · larger
Los Alamitos, CA 90720 79%33$135,851$1,215,400$740 larger · more walkable
Carpinteria, CA 93013 79%125$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Sierra Madre, CA 91024 78%54$143,547$1,226,800$764 larger · older homes
Glendale, CA 91207 78%59$118,116$1,426,100$768 pricier homes ($200K more) · older homes
Westlake Village, CA 91361 77%82$144,900$1,433,300$676 pricier homes ($207K more) · larger · older residents
Novato, CA 94947 77%423$128,766$1,017,600$602 cheaper homes ($209K less) · larger
Brisbane, CA 94005 76%395$156,169$1,232,200$756 smaller · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
San Rafael, CA 94903 76%419$142,083$1,197,300$722 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 76%349$151,250$1,136,400$649 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · more homeowners
San Jose, CA 95118 76%354$152,682$1,494,600$1,084 pricier homes ($268K more) · larger · younger residents
Tahoe City, CA 96145 76%419$112,875$962,600$704 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($264K less) · smaller
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 75%140$144,353$1,296,700$1,017 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · 12 min shorter commute
San Bruno, CA 94066 75%393$141,272$1,207,500$927 larger · younger residents
Hayward, CA 94542 75%381$133,734$1,148,000$606 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Kailua, HI 96734 75%2,577$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger · younger residents
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 74%160$114,139$1,205,900$677 lower income ($27K less) · more single-family homes

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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