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 San Mateo, CA 94401

San Mateo: median income $122,227, home value $1,184,500, $789/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Jose, CA 95117 89%27$116,348$1,520,700$874 pricier homes ($336K more) · more walkable
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 88%367$108,994$1,125,600$866 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · more walkable
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 86%366$114,249$1,105,900$835 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more walkable
Burbank, CA 91504 85%323$103,835$1,099,600$749 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more single-family homes
Redwood City, CA 94063 85%9$116,760$1,042,500$1,007 cheaper homes ($142K less) · more renters
San Jose, CA 95128 84%28$131,152$1,262,600$897 pricier homes ($78K more) · more walkable
Long Beach, CA 90814 82%352$104,650$950,700$602 cheaper homes ($234K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92123 82%441$132,534$865,600$626 cheaper homes ($319K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Tustin, CA 92780 82%366$101,017$861,700$621 cheaper homes ($323K less) · larger
Glendale, CA 91202 81%327$96,459$1,194,700$729 lower income ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 81%360$105,110$1,034,100$811 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · more single-family homes
San Rafael, CA 94901 81%29$115,330$1,512,600$730 pricier homes ($328K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92110 80%440$110,790$1,006,800$631 cheaper homes ($178K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
San Diego, CA 92124 80%441$120,201$918,500$578 cheaper homes ($266K less) · newer homes
Santa Clara, CA 95050 80%26$138,466$1,464,700$1,067 pricier homes ($280K more) · more walkable
Culver City, CA 90230 79%331$107,109$1,019,900$710 cheaper homes ($165K less) · more homeowners · more walkable
Torrance, CA 90503 79%341$125,912$1,099,700$745 cheaper homes ($85K less) · older residents · more walkable
Glendale, CA 91206 79%329$89,188$1,090,600$686 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($94K less) · older residents
Burbank, CA 91501 79%325$91,936$1,057,600$612 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
Carlsbad, CA 92008 79%415$104,995$1,229,400$891 pricier homes ($45K more) · older residents · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92111 79%440$99,644$817,700$658 cheaper homes ($367K less)
San Francisco, CA 94132 79%13$112,292$1,470,700$843 pricier homes ($286K more) · more walkable · older homes
Woodland Hills, CA 91367 78%313$108,653$1,067,000$594 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 6 min longer commute
Fremont, CA 94538 78%19$147,301$1,136,600$894 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Los Angeles, CA 90045 77%333$135,032$1,399,100$874 pricier homes ($215K more) · more single-family homes

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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