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 Los Angeles, CA 90010

Los Angeles: median income $101,455, home value $834,100, $601/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stamford, CT 06901 81%2,471$102,641$478,700$463 cheaper homes ($355K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75201 80%1,241$103,761$688,100$614 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80202 80%832$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33132 78%2,339$109,109$524,300$550 cheaper homes ($310K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98101 77%959$128,882$784,200$657 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33602 76%2,153$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30346 75%1,937$95,000$595,900$323 cheaper homes ($238K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Arlington, VA 22209 72%2,295$120,515$820,000$602 larger · older homes
Miami, FL 33137 72%2,338$94,036$616,800$672 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02141 71%2,592$126,522$868,100$842 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Nashville, TN 37201 71%1,780$114,229$621,200$596 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60601 71%1,746$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($308K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28204 70%2,119$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($249K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 68%2,333$124,812$884,800$542 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 67%581$72,735$499,300$474 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($335K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02111 66%2,593$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 pricier homes ($199K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55415 66%1,524$124,921$625,500$406 cheaper homes ($209K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more homeowners
New York, NY 10044 65%2,451$103,347$1,034,100$967 pricier homes ($200K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Philadelphia, PA 19123 65%2,392$102,106$539,500$326 cheaper homes ($295K less) · larger · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22203 65%2,293$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($39K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77027 65%1,370$103,812$859,500$362 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97227 65%827$93,293$662,000$294 cheaper homes ($172K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
New York, NY 10018 64%2,449$145,958$1,044,800$1,183 higher income ($45K more) · pricier homes ($211K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28203 64%2,118$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97209 64%825$80,301$587,300$343 cheaper homes ($247K less) · larger · 7 min shorter 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.