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 Princeton, NJ 08542

Princeton: median income $105,524, home value $754,100, $676/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tacoma, WA 98403 74%2,392$88,056$829,800$391 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Sacramento, CA 95816 73%2,471$90,839$839,700$504 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97210 68%2,419$93,621$991,200$376 pricier homes ($237K more) · larger · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22305 63%165$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Richmond, VA 23221 63%246$99,816$582,000$405 cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger · more homeowners
Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464 62%224$105,729$940,200$539 pricier homes ($186K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Oakland, CA 94609 62%2,528$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($454K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Berkeley, CA 94709 62%2,527$89,054$1,375,000$877 pricier homes ($621K more) · larger · younger residents
Berkeley, CA 94710 61%2,529$102,227$1,081,000$917 pricier homes ($327K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Newport, RI 02840 60%191$86,250$746,900$643 larger · more homeowners
Boston, MA 02113 59%233$113,314$662,000$1,091 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70130 59%1,127$80,212$562,800$325 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($191K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78756 59%1,468$94,701$832,000$500 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97214 59%2,416$87,131$771,800$338 larger
Somerville, MA 02143 58%232$130,753$926,800$769 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($173K more) · larger
Waltham, MA 02453 58%226$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · newer homes
Denver, CO 80218 58%1,596$81,706$676,700$398 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · newer homes
Berkeley, CA 94703 58%2,528$109,881$1,359,000$913 pricier homes ($605K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Providence, RI 02906 57%198$103,050$638,600$395 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78722 57%1,468$105,046$678,300$453 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19118 56%35$109,649$718,300$399 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older residents
Charleston, SC 29401 56%599$99,667$1,164,800$1,028 pricier homes ($411K more) · larger · older residents
Portland, ME 04102 55%320$82,751$503,500$388 cheaper homes ($251K less) · larger · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23507 55%257$104,295$555,200$223 cheaper homes ($199K less) · larger · more homeowners
Watertown, MA 02472 54%228$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 7 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.