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 93405

San Luis Obispo: median income $60,399, home value $949,700, $626/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bellingham, WA 98225 75%934$63,941$631,200$458 cheaper homes ($319K less) · larger · older residents
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 74%509$64,626$589,100$399 cheaper homes ($361K less) · newer homes
Boulder, CO 80302 73%902$61,698$1,190,800$604 pricier homes ($241K more) · more walkable
Fort Collins, CO 80521 73%923$58,082$564,900$378 cheaper homes ($385K less) · larger · more walkable
Goleta, CA 93117 73%75$90,037$1,082,400$821 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($133K more) · larger
Eugene, OR 97403 67%617$45,417$592,200$330 cheaper homes ($358K less) · smaller · more walkable
Charleston, SC 29403 66%2,322$66,944$674,000$586 cheaper homes ($276K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Arcata, CA 95521 66%428$53,114$501,000$340 cheaper homes ($449K less) · older residents
Davis, CA 95616 63%233$74,359$895,600$470 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Chico, CA 95926 61%314$61,920$473,600$286 cheaper homes ($476K less) · larger
Corvallis, OR 97333 61%654$65,191$511,100$351 cheaper homes ($439K less) · older residents · more walkable
San Diego, CA 92115 60%271$79,199$799,200$585 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger · older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22903 59%2,326$69,340$526,200$304 cheaper homes ($424K less) · larger · older residents
Boulder, CO 80303 59%904$78,555$961,900$467 older residents · more walkable
Provo, UT 84604 58%600$75,571$582,000$250 cheaper homes ($368K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bozeman, MT 59715 56%877$88,407$848,400$466 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Monsey, NY 10952 55%2,532$64,332$863,600$425 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Boise, ID 83706 54%621$82,893$537,700$364 cheaper homes ($412K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Chico, CA 95928 54%312$64,949$503,100$292 cheaper homes ($447K less) · older residents
Amherst, MA 01002 53%2,605$70,818$481,100$314 cheaper homes ($469K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35209 52%1,926$71,439$504,600$311 cheaper homes ($445K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Loma Linda, CA 92354 52%213$83,847$564,400$356 cheaper homes ($385K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Eugene, OR 97401 52%620$52,022$494,100$328 cheaper homes ($456K less) · larger · older residents
Kingston, RI 02881 51%2,660$56,472$575,000$369 cheaper homes ($375K less) · smaller · more walkable
Oceanside, CA 92058 51%238$69,970$670,200$520 cheaper homes ($280K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute

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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