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 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Laguna Niguel: median income $140,452, home value $1,190,900, $731/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Diego, CA 92128 93%51$131,077$927,100$597 cheaper homes ($264K less)
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 92%79$139,800$1,116,500$566 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Carlsbad, CA 92009 89%39$164,182$1,368,100$654 pricier homes ($177K more)
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 89%5$133,194$1,063,300$666 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller · younger residents
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 89%8$131,175$1,037,300$636 cheaper homes ($154K less) · more single-family homes
Encinitas, CA 92024 88%41$158,507$1,612,000$993 pricier homes ($421K more)
Westlake Village, CA 91361 87%78$144,900$1,433,300$676 pricier homes ($242K more) · smaller
Carlsbad, CA 92011 87%37$159,235$1,302,600$770 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller
San Rafael, CA 94903 87%415$142,083$1,197,300$722 smaller · older homes
Miami, FL 33156 85%2,299$137,076$1,120,100$619 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · younger residents
Irvine, CA 92604 85%13$133,869$1,058,000$830 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Huntington Beach, CA 92646 85%18$130,672$1,076,500$786 cheaper homes ($114K less) · older homes
Aptos, CA 95003 85%336$148,412$1,198,700$764 smaller · more single-family homes
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 85%345$151,250$1,136,400$649 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92129 84%51$156,321$1,109,600$659 cheaper homes ($81K less) · younger residents
Dana Point, CA 92629 83%3$142,807$1,347,700$1,095 pricier homes ($157K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Anaheim, CA 92808 83%24$158,462$1,069,300$627 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 83%392$142,586$1,076,600$621 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller · younger residents
Union City, CA 94587 83%373$133,715$1,104,900$729 cheaper homes ($86K less) · 6 min longer commute
Novato, CA 94949 83%415$120,758$1,150,500$576 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Carlsbad, CA 92010 82%34$129,926$1,103,300$639 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · younger residents
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 82%24$123,257$1,131,500$810 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · older homes
Fullerton, CA 92835 82%29$143,817$1,052,500$603 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller · older homes
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 81%3$129,457$993,800$697 cheaper homes ($197K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 81%12$152,528$906,100$637 cheaper homes ($285K less) · younger residents

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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