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 Tahoe City, CA 96145

Tahoe City: median income $112,875, home value $962,600, $704/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Soquel, CA 95073 86%180$118,169$1,062,800$699 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 81%2,485$125,179$1,054,000$822 pricier homes ($91K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 81%180$153,222$1,228,500$674 higher income ($40K more) · pricier homes ($266K more) · larger
Penngrove, CA 94951 80%148$106,332$1,207,000$543 pricier homes ($244K more) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92119 79%474$113,435$879,200$605 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Oakhurst, NJ 07755 78%2,424$134,338$768,400$582 cheaper homes ($194K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Neptune Beach, FL 32266 78%2,264$119,294$670,900$391 cheaper homes ($292K less) · larger
Los Osos, CA 93402 78%270$109,090$806,800$643 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · older residents
Narragansett, RI 02882 77%2,536$95,721$749,700$555 cheaper homes ($213K less) · larger
Salisbury, CT 06068 76%2,429$123,552$842,200$461 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · less walkable
Pine Brook, NJ 07058 76%2,398$127,805$768,600$382 cheaper homes ($194K less) · larger
Northvale, NJ 07647 76%2,417$128,542$602,800$451 cheaper homes ($360K less) · larger
Valhalla, NY 10595 76%2,424$123,438$723,100$451 cheaper homes ($240K less) · larger · older homes
Carbondale, CO 81623 76%692$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · newer homes
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 76%419$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($264K more) · larger
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 75%2,579$115,417$937,100$772 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 75%178$151,250$1,136,400$649 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($174K more) · larger
Novato, CA 94945 74%150$107,790$1,124,100$560 pricier homes ($162K more) · larger · older residents
Essex, MA 01929 73%2,552$156,442$902,000$416 higher income ($44K more) · cheaper homes ($61K less)
Yarmouth, ME 04096 73%2,566$110,216$639,700$434 cheaper homes ($323K less) · larger · less walkable
Montauk, NY 11954 73%2,518$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($394K more) · less walkable
La Palma, CA 90623 73%386$116,594$979,600$562 larger · 8 min longer commute · more walkable
Escondido, CA 92029 73%454$124,726$985,500$497 larger
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 73%315$114,139$1,205,900$677 pricier homes ($243K more) · larger
Healdsburg, CA 95448 73%151$105,120$1,048,300$701 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · older residents

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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