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 Gardena, CA 90248

Gardena: median income $91,176, home value $724,300, $597/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glen Cove, NY 11542 86%2,472$93,242$702,400$499 larger · more renters
Weymouth, MA 02188 84%2,604$107,335$594,000$396 cheaper homes ($130K less)
East Weymouth, MA 02189 84%2,606$94,541$474,800$437 cheaper homes ($250K less)
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 84%984$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98146 84%965$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98108 83%967$95,780$720,400$423 larger · younger residents
Amesbury, MA 01913 82%2,603$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($205K less) · larger
Red Bank, NJ 07701 81%2,451$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
Pearl City, HI 96782 81%2,558$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($150K more) · larger
Saugus, MA 01906 80%2,601$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Clifton, NJ 07012 80%2,444$101,737$483,800$498 cheaper homes ($241K less) · older homes
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 80%2,446$111,711$524,400$439 cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33176 80%2,330$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Norwalk, CT 06851 79%2,482$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · less walkable
Stamford, CT 06906 79%2,476$93,675$596,800$402 cheaper homes ($128K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Carlstadt, NJ 07072 79%2,448$115,444$595,400$426 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 79%2,446$101,740$483,700$369 cheaper homes ($241K less) · larger
Englewood, NJ 07631 79%2,453$102,571$544,100$428 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger
New Milford, NJ 07646 79%2,451$114,889$580,400$467 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger · older homes
Miami, FL 33145 79%2,335$73,995$581,600$485 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Aiea, HI 96701 79%2,557$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($217K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98166 79%962$114,969$824,400$420 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Peabody, MA 01960 78%2,603$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Bristol, RI 02809 78%2,591$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger
Norwalk, CT 06855 78%2,483$106,439$511,200$459 cheaper homes ($213K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes

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.