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 02453

Waltham: median income $115,366, home value $705,100, $473/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, VA 22305 89%391$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($159K more) · smaller
Denver, CO 80205 89%1,755$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($56K less) · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22204 88%392$107,941$688,000$418 larger · newer homes
White Plains, NY 10606 87%161$112,270$682,300$492 smaller
Denver, CO 80211 86%1,758$121,439$807,100$442 pricier homes ($102K more)
Port Chester, NY 10573 80%157$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents
Emeryville, CA 94608 80%2,675$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($145K more) · more renters · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95816 80%2,615$90,839$839,700$504 pricier homes ($135K more) · smaller · more renters
Seattle, WA 98119 80%2,479$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($343K more) · newer homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 79%210$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($233K less) · smaller
Washington, DC 20017 79%384$106,300$702,600$370 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22302 79%393$123,539$631,100$441 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · older residents
Evanston, IL 60201 79%841$90,545$590,700$370 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Chicago, IL 60622 79%842$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80206 79%1,755$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($210K more) · newer homes
Elmsford, NY 10523 77%161$118,438$588,100$449 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Conshohocken, PA 19428 77%264$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($227K less) · smaller · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 77%2,084$83,916$779,200$375 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($74K more)
San Diego, CA 92110 77%2,570$110,790$1,006,800$631 pricier homes ($302K more) · newer homes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 76%161$104,984$681,000$564 older residents · 8 min longer commute
West Harrison, NY 10604 76%158$117,014$735,700$479 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · older residents
Portland, OR 97202 76%2,523$104,971$700,800$340 older residents · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98144 76%2,476$96,969$901,700$489 pricier homes ($197K more) · older residents · newer homes
Providence, RI 02906 75%38$103,050$638,600$395 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 75%162$126,417$729,600$560 smaller · older residents · 8 min longer commute

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.