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 Luis Obispo, CA 93401

San Luis Obispo: median income $96,824, home value $973,000, $656/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monterey, CA 93940 90%113$106,044$1,099,300$725 pricier homes ($126K more) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85018 89%509$93,885$862,000$517 cheaper homes ($111K less)
San Diego, CA 92111 87%262$99,644$817,700$658 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92110 86%262$110,790$1,006,800$631 pricier homes ($34K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Boise, ID 83702 85%625$85,733$777,100$469 cheaper homes ($196K less)
Marina, CA 93933 85%117$99,826$833,800$503 cheaper homes ($139K less) · 7 min longer commute
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 85%147$108,591$1,207,200$785 pricier homes ($234K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92123 84%264$132,534$865,600$626 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($107K less)
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 84%191$114,249$1,105,900$835 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Honolulu, HI 96822 84%2,441$95,947$1,003,400$551 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Bozeman, MT 59715 83%877$88,407$848,400$466 cheaper homes ($125K less) · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92117 83%260$103,661$981,200$819 larger · older homes
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 83%140$112,106$1,076,500$904 pricier homes ($104K more) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98125 83%865$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
La Mesa, CA 91942 82%269$92,896$775,700$582 cheaper homes ($197K less) · 6 min longer commute
Englewood, CO 80113 81%911$96,590$709,100$408 cheaper homes ($264K less) · older homes
Key West, FL 33040 80%2,425$86,586$819,400$824 cheaper homes ($154K less) · older residents
Carlsbad, CA 92008 80%239$104,995$1,229,400$891 pricier homes ($256K more) · 10 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92124 80%264$120,201$918,500$578 cheaper homes ($55K less) · less walkable
San Diego, CA 92116 79%266$98,154$940,700$925 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
San Diego, CA 92126 79%258$126,913$865,400$643 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98144 79%856$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 10 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78756 78%1,370$94,701$832,000$500 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller
Reno, NV 89509 78%296$86,126$703,700$385 cheaper homes ($269K less)
Redlands, CA 92373 78%215$101,271$765,700$386 cheaper homes ($207K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable

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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