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 Rafael, CA 94901

San Rafael: median income $115,330, home value $1,512,600, $730/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burbank, CA 91504 92%350$103,835$1,099,600$749 cheaper homes ($413K less) · smaller
Arcadia, CA 91007 91%364$100,705$1,277,900$668 cheaper homes ($235K less) · 5 min longer commute
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 91%68$108,591$1,207,200$785 cheaper homes ($305K less) · younger residents
San Clemente, CA 92672 90%416$111,989$1,438,800$978 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Santa Ana, CA 92705 90%393$129,331$1,203,400$713 cheaper homes ($309K less)
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 90%75$112,106$1,076,500$904 cheaper homes ($436K less)
Torrance, CA 90503 88%368$125,912$1,099,700$745 cheaper homes ($413K less)
San Jose, CA 95128 88%55$131,152$1,262,600$897 cheaper homes ($250K less)
Carlsbad, CA 92008 87%442$104,995$1,229,400$891 cheaper homes ($283K less) · newer homes
Monterey, CA 93940 87%103$106,044$1,099,300$725 cheaper homes ($413K less)
Honolulu, HI 96816 87%2,392$114,609$1,168,800$730 cheaper homes ($344K less)
Torrance, CA 90505 86%370$115,593$1,204,300$820 cheaper homes ($308K less)
Glendale, CA 91202 86%354$96,459$1,194,700$729 cheaper homes ($318K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92117 86%465$103,661$981,200$819 cheaper homes ($531K less)
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 86%393$114,249$1,105,900$835 cheaper homes ($407K less)
South San Francisco, CA 94080 85%22$136,733$1,188,700$848 cheaper homes ($324K less) · larger
Burbank, CA 91505 84%351$109,953$1,061,200$760 cheaper homes ($451K less) · older homes
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 84%385$123,257$1,131,500$810 cheaper homes ($381K less) · 7 min longer commute
Kailua, HI 96734 84%2,384$132,782$1,367,600$904 cheaper homes ($145K less) · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90045 83%360$135,032$1,399,100$874 cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents
Tarzana, CA 91356 83%344$107,378$1,229,000$565 cheaper homes ($284K less) · 8 min longer commute
San Bruno, CA 94066 83%24$141,272$1,207,500$927 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($305K less)
Campbell, CA 95008 83%57$141,131$1,633,600$1,000 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($121K more)
Torrance, CA 90504 82%367$107,552$923,900$714 cheaper homes ($589K less)
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 82%387$105,110$1,034,100$811 cheaper homes ($479K less)

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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