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 Clemente, CA 92672

San Clemente: median income $111,989, home value $1,438,800, $978/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carlsbad, CA 92008 95%26$104,995$1,229,400$891 cheaper homes ($209K less)
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 92%31$123,257$1,131,500$810 cheaper homes ($307K less)
Arcadia, CA 91007 90%54$100,705$1,277,900$668 cheaper homes ($161K less)
San Rafael, CA 94901 90%416$115,330$1,512,600$730 pricier homes ($74K more)
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 90%347$112,106$1,076,500$904 cheaper homes ($362K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Carpinteria, CA 93013 87%128$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 cheaper homes ($285K less) · smaller
Torrance, CA 90503 86%50$125,912$1,099,700$745 cheaper homes ($339K less)
Torrance, CA 90505 86%49$115,593$1,204,300$820 cheaper homes ($235K less)
Burbank, CA 91504 86%66$103,835$1,099,600$749 cheaper homes ($339K less) · younger residents · older homes
Huntington Beach, CA 92648 86%28$130,164$1,239,500$772 cheaper homes ($199K less)
San Jose, CA 95128 85%362$131,152$1,262,600$897 cheaper homes ($176K less) · younger residents
Glendale, CA 91202 84%62$96,459$1,194,700$729 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller · more renters
Tarzana, CA 91356 84%73$107,378$1,229,000$565 cheaper homes ($210K less)
Dana Point, CA 92629 84%5$142,807$1,347,700$1,095 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($91K less)
Campbell, CA 95008 83%361$141,131$1,633,600$1,000 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($195K more)
Santa Ana, CA 92705 82%24$129,331$1,203,400$713 cheaper homes ($235K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33133 81%2,296$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($416K less) · younger residents
Culver City, CA 90230 81%59$107,109$1,019,900$710 cheaper homes ($419K less) · older homes
Irvine, CA 92604 81%20$133,869$1,058,000$830 cheaper homes ($381K less)
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 81%24$114,249$1,105,900$835 cheaper homes ($333K less) · younger residents · more renters
Novato, CA 94949 81%422$120,758$1,150,500$576 cheaper homes ($288K less) · smaller
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 81%355$108,591$1,207,200$785 cheaper homes ($232K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Redondo Beach, CA 90277 80%52$127,795$1,476,000$890 pricier homes ($37K more)
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 80%29$105,110$1,034,100$811 cheaper homes ($405K less) · larger · younger residents
Monterey, CA 93940 80%323$106,044$1,099,300$725 cheaper homes ($340K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters

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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