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 Jose, CA 95128

San Jose: median income $131,152, home value $1,262,600, $897/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Clara, CA 95050 94%2$138,466$1,464,700$1,067 pricier homes ($202K more)
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 93%338$114,249$1,105,900$835 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
Campbell, CA 95008 93%3$141,131$1,633,600$1,000 pricier homes ($371K more)
Torrance, CA 90503 92%313$125,912$1,099,700$745 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Los Angeles, CA 90045 90%305$135,032$1,399,100$874 pricier homes ($137K more)
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 90%24$112,106$1,076,500$904 cheaper homes ($186K less)
San Diego, CA 92107 89%413$113,117$1,379,900$964 pricier homes ($117K more)
Culver City, CA 90232 88%302$122,396$1,570,600$988 pricier homes ($308K more) · smaller
Carlsbad, CA 92008 88%387$104,995$1,229,400$891 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($33K less) · newer homes
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 88%340$108,994$1,125,600$866 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger
Fremont, CA 94538 88%15$147,301$1,136,600$894 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger
San Rafael, CA 94901 88%55$115,330$1,512,600$730 pricier homes ($250K more)
San Jose, CA 95117 88%2$116,348$1,520,700$874 pricier homes ($258K more)
Los Angeles, CA 90066 87%302$114,141$1,695,400$1,042 pricier homes ($433K more) · larger
Monterey, CA 93940 87%51$106,044$1,099,300$725 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($163K less)
Alameda, CA 94501 87%36$127,906$1,250,300$717 larger · 7 min longer commute
El Segundo, CA 90245 86%307$150,737$1,587,500$1,110 pricier homes ($325K more) · smaller
Burbank, CA 91504 86%295$103,835$1,099,600$749 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($163K less)
Studio City, CA 91604 86%296$141,875$1,700,300$822 pricier homes ($438K more) · 5 min longer commute
Huntington Beach, CA 92648 86%335$130,164$1,239,500$772 older residents · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90039 85%303$113,818$1,264,500$1,010 6 min longer commute · older homes
Burbank, CA 91505 85%296$109,953$1,061,200$760 cheaper homes ($201K less) · older homes
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 85%333$105,110$1,034,100$811 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger
San Clemente, CA 92672 85%362$111,989$1,438,800$978 pricier homes ($176K more) · older residents
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 85%22$108,591$1,207,200$785 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 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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