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 Grover Beach, CA 93433

Grover Beach: median income $86,458, home value $727,500, $543/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Artesia, CA 90701 87%169$101,004$776,600$590 pricier homes ($49K more) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Salinas, CA 93901 87%122$91,233$788,300$513 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · older homes
Lawndale, CA 90260 85%155$87,825$801,800$592 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · older homes
Lomita, CA 90717 85%160$94,241$839,000$600 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Oceano, CA 93445 84%1$72,261$573,800$501 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller · older residents
Lakewood, CA 90715 82%170$91,875$743,200$567 larger · 9 min longer commute
South Hackensack, NJ 07606 81%2,537$84,527$546,500$484 cheaper homes ($181K less) · smaller
Delray Beach, FL 33444 80%2,462$72,925$464,100$450 cheaper homes ($263K less) · larger
Torrance, CA 90502 80%160$94,291$697,400$557 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Lemon Grove, CA 91945 80%264$88,016$704,900$540 larger · 9 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92139 80%265$95,653$630,800$507 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Port Hueneme, CA 93041 80%104$90,592$586,600$465 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Seaside, CA 93955 80%123$85,282$788,300$667 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · younger residents
Cotati, CA 94931 80%250$101,994$820,000$454 pricier homes ($93K more) · 8 min longer commute
Woodland, CA 95695 80%255$79,486$547,400$342 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 79%2,468$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($229K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Monterey Park, CA 91755 79%160$76,382$839,800$561 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Key West, FL 33040 78%2,422$86,586$819,400$824 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Vista, CA 92083 78%234$86,974$658,200$528 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · younger residents
Oxnard, CA 93036 78%102$101,445$678,000$455 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger residents
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 78%198$105,577$737,600$640 more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Marina, CA 93933 78%127$99,826$833,800$503 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 78%258$93,615$630,900$479 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98108 78%863$95,780$720,400$423 larger · 7 min longer commute
Harbor City, CA 90710 77%161$82,478$689,300$553 cheaper homes ($38K 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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