OfferBackedBuyer Tools
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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 Bruno, CA 94066

San Bruno: median income $141,272, home value $1,207,500, $927/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South San Francisco, CA 94080 96%2$136,733$1,188,700$848 larger
Daly City, CA 94015 93%5$127,056$1,165,500$766 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Kailua, HI 96734 91%2,381$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($160K more)
Santa Ana, CA 92705 90%373$129,331$1,203,400$713 Very close on everything we compare
Palo Alto, CA 94303 89%19$151,609$1,826,200$1,065 pricier homes ($619K more)
Redwood City, CA 94061 86%16$146,265$1,900,500$1,263 pricier homes ($693K more)
Pacifica, CA 94044 85%3$160,408$1,249,800$896 pricier homes ($42K more)
Long Beach, CA 90815 84%358$119,716$927,900$744 cheaper homes ($280K less) · 5 min longer commute
Orange, CA 92867 84%368$130,741$1,015,000$661 cheaper homes ($193K less)
San Rafael, CA 94901 83%24$115,330$1,512,600$730 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($305K more)
San Jose, CA 95123 82%42$144,276$1,166,800$788 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more walkable
Honolulu, HI 96816 82%2,389$114,609$1,168,800$730 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Los Alamitos, CA 90720 81%360$135,851$1,215,400$740 smaller · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Millbrae, CA 94030 81%2$163,476$1,934,900$1,125 pricier homes ($727K more) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92117 80%444$103,661$981,200$819 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($226K less) · more walkable
San Diego, CA 92120 79%450$120,661$924,900$654 cheaper homes ($283K less)
Orange, CA 92869 79%371$138,204$994,400$645 cheaper homes ($213K less) · newer homes
Carpinteria, CA 93013 79%276$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Petaluma, CA 94952 79%45$117,343$1,041,100$656 cheaper homes ($166K less) · more single-family homes
San Jose, CA 95118 79%39$152,682$1,494,600$1,084 pricier homes ($287K more) · 7 min longer commute · more walkable
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 78%385$133,194$1,063,300$666 cheaper homes ($144K less) · newer homes
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 78%264$144,353$1,296,700$1,017 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Castro Valley, CA 94546 78%20$128,385$1,043,500$661 cheaper homes ($164K less) · 8 min longer commute · more walkable
San Rafael, CA 94903 78%30$142,083$1,197,300$722 older residents
San Jose, CA 95125 78%37$160,738$1,694,300$1,083 pricier homes ($487K more) · more walkable

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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