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 Pacifica, CA 94044

Pacifica: median income $160,408, home value $1,249,800, $896/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 87%10$153,781$1,556,800$812 pricier homes ($307K more) · smaller · newer homes
San Bruno, CA 94066 85%3$141,272$1,207,500$927 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Aptos, CA 95003 85%55$148,412$1,198,700$764 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more walkable
Daly City, CA 94015 84%4$127,056$1,165,500$766 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Millbrae, CA 94030 84%5$163,476$1,934,900$1,125 pricier homes ($685K more) · smaller
South San Francisco, CA 94080 84%4$136,733$1,188,700$848 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Poway, CA 92064 83%444$148,673$1,033,100$606 cheaper homes ($217K less) · newer homes
Kailua, HI 96734 82%2,378$132,782$1,367,600$904 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($118K more) · younger residents
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 81%395$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 smaller
Anaheim, CA 92807 81%370$138,741$963,200$610 cheaper homes ($287K less) · more homeowners
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 81%50$153,222$1,228,500$674 smaller
Palo Alto, CA 94303 80%22$151,609$1,826,200$1,065 pricier homes ($576K more) · younger residents · more walkable
San Jose, CA 95132 80%37$178,611$1,349,100$942 pricier homes ($99K more) · more walkable
Yorba Linda, CA 92886 79%368$153,397$1,116,500$636 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
San Rafael, CA 94903 79%29$142,083$1,197,300$722 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more walkable
Long Beach, CA 90808 78%359$137,855$954,200$730 cheaper homes ($296K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 78%387$141,045$985,100$674 cheaper homes ($265K less) · more walkable
Livermore, CA 94550 78%40$180,295$1,202,500$666 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more walkable · newer homes
Novato, CA 94947 78%33$128,766$1,017,600$602 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($232K less) · smaller
Kaneohe, HI 96744 78%2,381$131,653$1,039,900$690 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($210K less) · larger
Glendale, CA 91208 77%335$136,892$1,421,200$722 pricier homes ($171K more) · smaller · more walkable
La Crescenta, CA 91214 77%333$140,121$1,135,200$782 cheaper homes ($115K less) · more walkable
Westlake Village, CA 91361 77%315$144,900$1,433,300$676 pricier homes ($184K more) · smaller · older residents
Petaluma, CA 94952 77%44$117,343$1,041,100$656 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($209K less) · more walkable
Soquel, CA 95073 77%52$118,169$1,062,800$699 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($187K less) · smaller

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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