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 South San Francisco, CA 94080

South San Francisco: median income $136,733, home value $1,188,700, $848/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Daly City, CA 94015 96%3$127,056$1,165,500$766 Very close on everything we compare
San Bruno, CA 94066 96%2$141,272$1,207,500$927 smaller
Santa Ana, CA 92705 91%374$129,331$1,203,400$713 Very close on everything we compare
Kailua, HI 96734 87%2,382$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($179K more)
Honolulu, HI 96816 86%2,390$114,609$1,168,800$730 more walkable
San Rafael, CA 94901 85%22$115,330$1,512,600$730 pricier homes ($324K more) · smaller
San Jose, CA 95123 85%43$144,276$1,166,800$788 younger residents · more walkable
Orange, CA 92867 84%369$130,741$1,015,000$661 cheaper homes ($174K less) · younger residents
Pacifica, CA 94044 84%4$160,408$1,249,800$896 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Petaluma, CA 94952 84%43$117,343$1,041,100$656 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Palo Alto, CA 94303 83%20$151,609$1,826,200$1,065 pricier homes ($638K more)
Castro Valley, CA 94546 83%19$128,385$1,043,500$661 cheaper homes ($145K less) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Union City, CA 94587 82%21$133,715$1,104,900$729 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
San Jose, CA 95127 82%39$128,786$1,035,800$804 cheaper homes ($153K less) · more single-family homes
Kaneohe, HI 96744 82%2,385$131,653$1,039,900$690 cheaper homes ($149K less) · more homeowners
Los Alamitos, CA 90720 81%362$135,851$1,215,400$740 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · more walkable
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 81%366$123,257$1,131,500$810 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
San Rafael, CA 94903 81%27$142,083$1,197,300$722 smaller · older residents
Long Beach, CA 90815 80%360$119,716$927,900$744 cheaper homes ($261K less) · smaller · younger residents
Orange, CA 92869 80%373$138,204$994,400$645 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Novato, CA 94947 80%32$128,766$1,017,600$602 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 80%2,393$108,669$874,200$603 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($315K less) · smaller
Torrance, CA 90504 79%348$107,552$923,900$714 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92117 79%445$103,661$981,200$819 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($208K less) · 5 min shorter commute
San Clemente, CA 92672 79%397$111,989$1,438,800$978 pricier homes ($250K more) · 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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