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 Downey, CA 90240

Downey: median income $101,904, home value $815,600, $597/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98146 90%961$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Seattle, WA 98178 88%959$99,505$660,400$367 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Saugus, MA 01906 85%2,589$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($212K less) · older residents
Pearl City, HI 96782 83%2,569$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98108 83%963$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($95K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98166 81%958$114,969$824,400$420 Very close on everything we compare
New Milford, NJ 07646 80%2,440$114,889$580,400$467 cheaper homes ($235K less)
Uniondale, NY 11553 80%2,463$121,127$511,600$510 cheaper homes ($304K less)
Lynn, MA 01904 79%2,592$99,614$560,500$391 cheaper homes ($255K less) · more homeowners
West Babylon, NY 11704 79%2,476$129,195$527,500$459 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33155 79%2,322$81,158$581,700$490 cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger · older residents
Kenilworth, NJ 07033 78%2,427$118,611$522,200$471 cheaper homes ($293K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Copiague, NY 11726 78%2,474$128,425$481,500$468 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($334K less)
Everett, WA 98203 78%989$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($207K less) · newer homes
Freeport, NY 11520 77%2,464$121,748$506,100$406 cheaper homes ($310K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Totowa, NJ 07512 76%2,430$113,563$559,300$401 cheaper homes ($256K less) · smaller
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 76%2,437$123,734$552,900$430 cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller · older residents
Amityville, NY 11701 75%2,473$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($316K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98168 75%960$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($268K less)
Braintree, MA 02184 74%2,591$122,214$656,800$428 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger · more homeowners
Plainfield, NJ 07062 74%2,421$98,344$396,100$417 cheaper homes ($420K less) · smaller
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663 74%2,436$129,073$503,400$451 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($312K less) · smaller
Keyport, NJ 07735 74%2,433$97,536$406,000$382 cheaper homes ($410K less)
Glen Cove, NY 11542 74%2,461$93,242$702,400$499 cheaper homes ($113K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Brockton, MA 02302 73%2,591$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($391K less)

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.