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 West Newton, MA 02465

West Newton: median income $194,265, home value $1,159,200, $619/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20015 85%385$250,000+*$1,245,600$557 higher income ($56K more) · pricier homes ($86K more)
Seattle, WA 98112 85%2,476$171,572$1,549,100$681 pricier homes ($390K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98117 85%2,479$182,984$1,043,500$564 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22205 83%392$201,094$1,092,800$542 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Oakland, CA 94618 83%2,674$201,780$1,753,100$855 pricier homes ($594K more)
Seattle, WA 98199 83%2,481$180,789$1,198,700$629 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · newer homes
Narberth, PA 19072 82%264$172,550$819,700$372 cheaper homes ($340K less)
Summit, NJ 07901 79%198$179,701$987,900$715 cheaper homes ($171K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Berkeley, CA 94705 76%2,674$167,970$1,992,800$899 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($834K more) · 6 min longer commute
Pelham, NY 10803 75%167$215,208$978,600$646 cheaper homes ($181K less) · 13 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20016 75%387$178,920$1,216,000$565 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Madison, NJ 07940 73%198$172,708$940,900$609 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · younger residents
Larchmont, NY 10538 73%163$207,969$1,266,600$807 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · 13 min longer commute
Eastchester, NY 10709 73%164$170,417$847,900$497 cheaper homes ($311K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 73%385$194,971$1,294,200$480 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22301 73%391$194,819$1,027,900$616 cheaper homes ($131K less) · younger residents · more renters
Seattle, WA 98136 73%2,482$149,269$925,000$544 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($234K less) · newer homes
Bethesda, MD 20816 72%387$232,656$1,217,200$495 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Oakland, CA 94611 72%2,673$180,549$1,537,700$751 pricier homes ($379K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Wynnewood, PA 19096 71%266$186,277$713,100$339 cheaper homes ($446K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Ridgewood, NJ 07450 70%176$208,211$891,200$658 cheaper homes ($268K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Albany, CA 94706 70%2,675$143,398$1,203,500$836 lower income ($51K less) · pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Fairfax, CA 94930 70%2,687$145,362$1,170,000$732 lower income ($49K less) · older residents · less walkable
Cos Cob, CT 06807 69%151$192,115$1,443,200$722 pricier homes ($284K more) · smaller · less walkable
Arlington, VA 22207 69%390$245,745$1,257,900$511 higher income ($51K more) · pricier homes ($99K more) · larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.