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 90035

Los Angeles: median income $105,013, home value $1,908,900, $800/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98119 79%961$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($861K less)
Seattle, WA 98102 74%960$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($946K less)
Boston, MA 02118 71%2,597$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 cheaper homes ($851K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Cambridge, MA 02140 71%2,594$135,286$1,149,800$931 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($759K less) · 7 min longer commute
New York, NY 10038 69%2,453$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($987K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22305 67%2,300$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($1044K less) · smaller
Bellevue, WA 98007 66%957$131,109$1,018,100$543 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($891K less) · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98103 66%963$131,154$1,044,100$570 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($865K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02116 65%2,597$126,496$1,562,500$1,330 cheaper homes ($346K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Miami, FL 33133 64%2,342$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($887K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98122 64%959$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($952K less) · newer homes
Brookline, MA 02446 63%2,595$131,963$1,181,500$843 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($727K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80206 63%838$101,594$915,400$427 cheaper homes ($994K less) · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97210 63%825$93,621$991,200$376 cheaper homes ($918K less) · smaller
Cambridge, MA 02139 62%2,596$134,586$1,087,500$965 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($821K less) · younger residents
Denver, CO 80209 62%837$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($891K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cambridge, MA 02138 61%2,594$119,967$1,212,400$919 cheaper homes ($697K less) · younger residents · older homes
Somerville, MA 02143 61%2,596$130,753$926,800$769 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($982K less) · older homes
Washington, DC 20008 60%2,300$125,212$965,100$596 cheaper homes ($944K less)
Seattle, WA 98105 60%962$74,349$1,312,100$578 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($597K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98144 60%957$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($1007K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cambridge, MA 02141 59%2,597$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($1041K less) · smaller · younger residents
New York, NY 10019 59%2,454$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 cheaper homes ($848K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98116 59%957$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($936K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20007 58%2,299$140,996$1,292,400$727 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($617K less) · more homeowners

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.