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 90221

Compton: median income $72,937, home value $575,000, $572/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80219 78%832$68,415$454,600$344 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Hempstead, NY 11550 74%2,469$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($110K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98168 74%964$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Miami, FL 33162 73%2,329$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Paterson, NJ 07502 72%2,438$76,790$375,300$381 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 71%2,325$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($203K less) · older residents · newer homes
Miami, FL 33147 71%2,328$50,704$381,000$374 cheaper homes ($194K less) · older residents
Miami, FL 33167 70%2,328$62,846$381,100$335 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · older residents
Aurora, CO 80010 70%841$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Linden, NJ 07036 69%2,436$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($157K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Lynn, MA 01905 68%2,599$84,333$499,200$377 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Brockton, MA 02301 68%2,597$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($126K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Plainfield, NJ 07063 68%2,427$93,304$392,500$383 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Hollywood, FL 33023 68%2,326$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($195K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Lake Worth, FL 33460 68%2,318$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($170K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Dover, NJ 07801 67%2,420$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98444 67%943$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($159K less) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33161 66%2,331$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33169 66%2,327$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($172K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 66%2,325$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($152K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85007 66%354$63,616$480,600$340 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Brockton, MA 02302 65%2,599$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($150K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Hyattsville, MD 20784 65%2,304$86,509$369,900$275 cheaper homes ($205K less)
Opa Locka, FL 33054 65%2,326$45,710$335,800$398 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 65%996$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($75K 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.