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 Alexandria, VA 22311

Alexandria: median income $87,626, home value $760,300, $379/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glendale, CA 91203 85%2,289$82,364$728,700$615 cheaper homes ($32K less) · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94612 84%2,423$74,037$827,800$439 pricier homes ($68K more) · more walkable
Long Beach, CA 90802 83%2,294$74,510$542,600$555 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger
Oakland, CA 94607 80%2,424$94,863$720,600$426 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Sacramento, CA 95811 80%2,368$80,827$761,000$400 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 79%216$94,743$719,600$511 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80246 79%1,483$67,235$716,400$405 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more walkable
Pasadena, CA 91101 79%2,282$87,813$682,300$636 cheaper homes ($78K less) · more walkable
Glendale, CA 91204 79%2,289$74,144$726,500$556 cheaper homes ($34K less)
North Hollywood, CA 91601 79%2,294$79,607$1,000,000$637 pricier homes ($240K more) · larger · more walkable
East Rutherford, NJ 07073 73%212$97,993$458,100$397 cheaper homes ($302K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Jersey City, NJ 07306 73%209$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($244K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90020 73%2,293$61,184$847,700$599 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Harrison, NJ 07029 72%206$88,333$499,600$340 cheaper homes ($261K less) · 12 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80203 72%1,485$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($290K less) · more walkable
Montrose, CA 91020 72%2,286$72,125$911,200$580 pricier homes ($151K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
North Hollywood, CA 91602 72%2,294$102,914$1,055,900$636 pricier homes ($296K more) · more homeowners
Renton, WA 98057 72%2,315$68,552$648,800$376 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Framingham, MA 01702 71%382$82,496$583,000$340 cheaper homes ($177K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80204 71%1,488$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80218 71%1,485$81,706$676,700$398 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Glendale, CA 91205 71%2,288$64,564$800,800$615 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Valley Village, CA 91607 71%2,296$87,874$1,030,500$681 pricier homes ($270K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Orange, CA 92868 71%2,277$97,500$762,000$545 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Oakland, CA 94606 71%2,422$72,470$802,700$494 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · older 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.