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 Aptos, CA 95003

Aptos: median income $148,412, home value $1,198,700, $764/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Rafael, CA 94903 92%82$142,083$1,197,300$722 Very close on everything we compare
Westlake Village, CA 91361 91%260$144,900$1,433,300$676 pricier homes ($235K more)
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 91%334$131,175$1,037,300$636 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger
Fullerton, CA 92835 91%309$143,817$1,052,500$603 cheaper homes ($146K less) · younger residents
Novato, CA 94947 91%86$128,766$1,017,600$602 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 91%9$151,250$1,136,400$649 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 90%258$139,800$1,116,500$566 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Woodland Hills, CA 91364 90%269$132,854$1,208,200$605 younger residents
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 90%333$141,045$985,100$674 cheaper homes ($214K less) · larger
Edmonds, WA 98020 90%748$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Yorba Linda, CA 92886 88%314$153,397$1,116,500$636 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · more homeowners
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 88%46$153,781$1,556,800$812 pricier homes ($358K more) · smaller · less walkable
Livermore, CA 94550 88%49$180,295$1,202,500$666 higher income ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Los Alamitos, CA 90720 87%308$135,851$1,215,400$740 younger residents
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 87%265$163,317$1,116,200$584 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Poway, CA 92064 87%390$148,673$1,033,100$606 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · younger residents
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 87%6$153,222$1,228,500$674 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96825 87%2,398$153,210$1,088,700$759 cheaper homes ($110K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Glendale, CA 91208 86%282$136,892$1,421,200$722 pricier homes ($223K more) · smaller · older homes
Newbury Park, CA 91320 86%255$148,991$948,100$507 cheaper homes ($251K less) · larger · younger residents
Porter Ranch, CA 91326 86%264$148,281$1,106,000$537 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Huntington Beach, CA 92646 86%318$130,672$1,076,500$786 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 86%333$133,194$1,063,300$666 cheaper homes ($135K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Cerritos, CA 90703 85%304$134,987$932,400$636 cheaper homes ($266K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Arcadia, CA 91006 85%293$123,533$1,260,000$688 pricier homes ($61K more) · older 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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