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 Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Half Moon Bay: median income $153,781, home value $1,556,800, $812/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 91%41$153,222$1,228,500$674 cheaper homes ($328K less) · smaller
Westlake Village, CA 91361 88%306$144,900$1,433,300$676 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Aptos, CA 95003 88%46$148,412$1,198,700$764 cheaper homes ($358K less) · larger · more walkable
Pacifica, CA 94044 87%10$160,408$1,249,800$896 cheaper homes ($307K less) · larger · older homes
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 85%387$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 cheaper homes ($331K less) · smaller
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 85%37$151,250$1,136,400$649 cheaper homes ($420K less) · more walkable
Southampton, NY 11968 84%2,653$156,219$1,326,600$963 cheaper homes ($230K less) · more single-family homes
Yorba Linda, CA 92887 84%363$163,953$1,179,100$575 cheaper homes ($378K less) · 5 min longer commute
Saint Helena, CA 94574 84%71$139,474$1,637,800$1,017 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Oak Park, CA 91377 83%307$163,085$1,036,900$571 cheaper homes ($520K less)
Montauk, NY 11954 82%2,675$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Anaheim, CA 92808 82%363$158,462$1,069,300$627 cheaper homes ($488K less) · newer homes
Soquel, CA 95073 82%43$118,169$1,062,800$699 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($494K less)
Yorba Linda, CA 92886 81%360$153,397$1,116,500$636 cheaper homes ($440K less) · larger
Carmel Valley, CA 93924 81%80$148,563$1,222,600$762 cheaper homes ($334K less) · smaller · older residents
Hayward, CA 94542 81%25$133,734$1,148,000$606 cheaper homes ($409K less) · 7 min longer commute
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 80%304$139,800$1,116,500$566 cheaper homes ($440K less) · larger · more walkable
Honolulu, HI 96825 80%2,379$153,210$1,088,700$759 cheaper homes ($468K less) · larger · more walkable
Glendale, CA 91208 79%327$136,892$1,421,200$722 cheaper homes ($136K less) · more walkable · older homes
Porter Ranch, CA 91326 79%310$148,281$1,106,000$537 cheaper homes ($451K less) · larger
Anaheim, CA 92807 79%362$138,741$963,200$610 cheaper homes ($594K less) · larger
East Hampton, NY 11937 78%2,664$129,883$1,115,100$875 cheaper homes ($442K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Carlsbad, CA 92009 78%421$164,182$1,368,100$654 cheaper homes ($189K less) · larger · newer homes
Poway, CA 92064 78%436$148,673$1,033,100$606 cheaper homes ($524K less) · larger · younger residents
San Clemente, CA 92673 78%388$182,178$1,375,700$732 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($181K less) · 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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