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 Compton, CA 90220

Compton: median income $82,335, home value $554,900, $505/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brockton, MA 02302 85%2,600$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Seattle, WA 98168 84%964$88,083$548,000$369 6 min shorter commute
Plainfield, NJ 07063 82%2,428$93,304$392,500$383 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80219 82%833$68,415$454,600$344 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Hempstead, NY 11550 81%2,471$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 81%2,327$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($183K less) · newer homes
Linden, NJ 07036 80%2,438$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($137K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Hollywood, FL 33023 80%2,327$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 80%2,326$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($132K less) · older residents
Hollywood, FL 33024 79%2,324$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98404 79%947$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($141K less) · newer homes
Hyattsville, MD 20784 78%2,306$86,509$369,900$275 cheaper homes ($185K less)
Hillside, NJ 07205 76%2,439$99,528$397,400$353 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33167 76%2,329$62,846$381,100$335 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller · older residents
Paterson, NJ 07502 75%2,440$76,790$375,300$381 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Dover, NJ 07801 75%2,421$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98198 75%958$86,239$589,500$361 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Carteret, NJ 07008 74%2,439$97,021$406,000$355 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller
Plainfield, NJ 07062 74%2,430$98,344$396,100$417 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
Roselle, NJ 07203 74%2,437$92,762$379,900$350 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller
South Amboy, NJ 08879 74%2,437$92,786$389,800$360 cheaper homes ($165K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33162 74%2,331$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Lynn, MA 01905 73%2,600$84,333$499,200$377 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Brockton, MA 02301 73%2,598$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more apartments and townhomes
New Bedford, MA 02745 73%2,605$74,034$368,600$316 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller · older 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.