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 Boca Raton, FL 33496

Boca Raton: median income $114,885, home value $708,300, $473/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mahwah, NJ 07430 87%1,070$131,327$606,000$427 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Scarborough, ME 04074 85%1,309$135,018$556,800$413 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Exeter, NH 03833 83%1,258$119,393$480,500$354 cheaper homes ($228K less) · younger residents
Johns Island, SC 29455 83%441$121,372$590,800$330 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 5 min longer commute
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 82%1,954$140,616$1,036,800$526 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($329K more) · larger
Tucson, AZ 85718 82%1,889$114,892$712,400$308 more renters
Freeport, ME 04032 81%1,331$107,326$508,400$372 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller
Kennebunk, ME 04043 81%1,292$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 81%403$97,948$639,400$351 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents
Tucson, AZ 85750 81%1,884$102,836$585,300$281 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older residents
Santa Rosa, CA 95409 81%2,587$107,867$802,000$445 pricier homes ($94K more) · more renters · older homes
Wakefield, RI 02879 80%1,150$112,231$564,700$445 cheaper homes ($144K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 80%1,061$117,959$539,000$431 cheaper homes ($169K less) · smaller · older homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85259 80%1,950$137,895$1,011,200$421 pricier homes ($303K more) · more single-family homes
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 79%341$108,632$571,100$344 cheaper homes ($137K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Austin, TX 78734 79%1,113$130,784$677,300$274 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more single-family homes
Reno, NV 89511 79%2,442$124,130$916,600$484 pricier homes ($208K more) · younger residents · more renters
Camarillo, CA 93012 79%2,362$135,217$841,800$498 pricier homes ($134K more) · younger residents · more renters
Portsmouth, RI 02871 78%1,166$116,831$597,000$392 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 78%1,957$123,203$785,700$426 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · more walkable
Shelburne, VT 05482 77%1,302$115,963$588,100$310 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · more renters
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 77%901$102,146$608,800$339 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · older residents
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 77%447$133,357$736,400$362 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · younger residents
Willowbrook, IL 60527 77%1,148$106,543$501,700$269 cheaper homes ($207K less)
Eagle, CO 81631 77%1,780$113,662$735,800$462 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · younger residents

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.