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 Waltham, MA 02452

Waltham: median income $118,431, home value $808,300, $429/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elmsford, NY 10523 89%163$118,438$588,100$449 cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller
West Harrison, NY 10604 89%159$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older residents
Falls Church, VA 22044 88%396$101,034$775,600$339 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Alexandria, VA 22312 87%397$109,272$604,200$325 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92124 87%2,564$120,201$918,500$578 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Norwalk, CT 06850 83%144$123,633$581,200$390 cheaper homes ($227K less) · older residents
Redlands, CA 92373 83%2,529$101,271$765,700$386 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older residents
Boca Raton, FL 33431 82%1,215$107,896$640,700$427 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22204 81%393$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92123 81%2,567$132,534$865,600$626 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 80%209$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($192K less) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98106 80%2,479$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · more single-family homes
White Plains, NY 10606 79%162$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($126K less) · more renters · more walkable
Austin, TX 78723 79%1,683$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($246K less) · larger · newer homes
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 79%2,474$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($141K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98125 79%2,474$99,868$874,300$489 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · older residents
Edison, NJ 08837 78%206$102,605$437,900$389 cheaper homes ($370K less) · older residents
Alexandria, VA 22305 78%393$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($56K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Houston, TX 77079 78%1,608$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Marina, CA 93933 78%2,684$99,826$833,800$503 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97225 78%2,530$114,598$751,700$319 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · older residents
Stamford, CT 06906 77%150$93,675$596,800$402 cheaper homes ($212K less) · smaller · older residents
Conshohocken, PA 19428 77%266$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($330K less)
Falls Church, VA 22043 77%395$145,881$881,600$456 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22302 77%394$123,539$631,100$441 cheaper homes ($177K less) · 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.