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 Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Pacific Grove: median income $106,065, home value $1,190,400, $1,058/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burbank, CA 91506 82%264$105,955$1,096,000$785 cheaper homes ($94K less) · younger residents
Torrance, CA 90505 79%280$115,593$1,204,300$820 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Pasadena, CA 91107 78%275$126,449$1,155,300$793 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Berkeley, CA 94702 78%89$99,775$1,202,100$1,046 younger residents · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Bradley Beach, NJ 07720 76%2,574$97,005$932,800$813 cheaper homes ($258K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90041 76%271$114,526$1,192,200$894 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 76%25$112,106$1,076,500$904 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · younger residents
Los Angeles, CA 90039 74%269$113,818$1,264,500$1,010 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · younger residents
Honolulu, HI 96816 74%2,395$114,609$1,168,800$730 larger · more homeowners
Sierra Madre, CA 91024 72%276$143,547$1,226,800$764 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Monterey, CA 93940 72%5$106,044$1,099,300$725 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · younger residents
Torrance, CA 90504 71%278$107,552$923,900$714 cheaper homes ($267K less) · larger · younger residents
Arcadia, CA 91007 71%278$100,705$1,277,900$668 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · younger residents
San Gabriel, CA 91775 71%277$118,610$1,092,700$782 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · younger residents
Pasadena, CA 91104 69%273$105,958$1,080,100$850 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · younger residents
Glendale, CA 91202 69%267$96,459$1,194,700$729 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Burbank, CA 91505 69%263$109,953$1,061,200$760 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · younger residents
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 69%195$138,286$1,663,000$1,110 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($473K more) · larger
Capitola, CA 95010 69%25$105,236$828,700$906 cheaper homes ($362K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Glendale, CA 91207 68%268$118,116$1,426,100$768 pricier homes ($236K more) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92117 68%375$103,661$981,200$819 cheaper homes ($209K less) · larger · younger residents
San Rafael, CA 94901 68%99$115,330$1,512,600$730 pricier homes ($322K more) · larger · younger residents
San Rafael, CA 94903 68%104$142,083$1,197,300$722 higher income ($36K more) · larger · more homeowners
Spring Lake, NJ 07762 67%2,574$116,295$927,700$705 cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90064 67%266$135,383$1,765,300$997 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($575K more) · larger

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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