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 Needham Heights, MA 02494

Needham Heights: median income $179,720, home value $1,107,700, $530/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Falls Church, VA 22046 91%391$168,882$1,014,700$476 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Vienna, VA 22180 90%394$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22213 90%390$199,306$1,064,500$507 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98199 90%2,482$180,789$1,198,700$629 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98136 86%2,483$149,269$925,000$544 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 85%383$194,971$1,294,200$480 pricier homes ($187K more) · larger
Tampa, FL 33629 84%1,178$164,355$851,400$493 cheaper homes ($256K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 84%2,661$186,225$1,339,900$665 pricier homes ($232K more) · larger · less walkable
Bellevue, WA 98008 84%2,470$184,583$1,206,200$671 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Eastchester, NY 10709 83%162$170,417$847,900$497 cheaper homes ($260K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Devon, PA 19333 83%268$173,107$760,700$386 cheaper homes ($347K less)
Raleigh, NC 27608 83%599$162,188$977,400$454 cheaper homes ($130K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Madison, NJ 07940 82%196$172,708$940,900$609 cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger · younger residents
New Providence, NJ 07974 82%198$172,894$758,400$549 cheaper homes ($349K less) · 5 min longer commute
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 82%2,529$149,236$1,047,500$444 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Florham Park, NJ 07932 81%194$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($317K less) · newer homes
Vienna, VA 22181 81%395$211,911$998,300$402 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($109K less) · less walkable
Miami, FL 33156 81%1,259$137,076$1,120,100$619 lower income ($43K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28207 80%712$217,204$1,409,300$595 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($302K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 80%2,606$163,317$1,116,200$584 larger
Seattle, WA 98117 80%2,481$182,984$1,043,500$564 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · older homes
Cos Cob, CT 06807 79%149$192,115$1,443,200$722 pricier homes ($336K more) · less walkable
Summit, NJ 07901 79%195$179,701$987,900$715 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
White Plains, NY 10605 79%157$148,982$787,500$459 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($320K less) · larger
Kensington, MD 20895 79%380$173,625$781,500$396 cheaper homes ($326K less) · larger · 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.