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.

Reset

Towns most like Lawndale, CA 90260

Lawndale: median income $87,825, home value $801,800, $592/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honolulu, HI 96819 84%2,552$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($153K more) · larger · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98168 82%962$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($254K less)
Seattle, WA 98108 75%966$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more homeowners
Everett, WA 98201 74%994$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($302K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Hempstead, NY 11550 71%2,476$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($337K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 71%2,333$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($332K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98198 71%956$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($212K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
West Palm Beach, FL 33405 70%2,325$87,341$467,100$631 cheaper homes ($335K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98146 70%963$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($122K less) · more homeowners
Glen Cove, NY 11542 69%2,475$93,242$702,400$499 cheaper homes ($99K less) · older residents · less walkable
Miami, FL 33138 69%2,339$75,051$784,700$560 more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33155 69%2,335$81,158$581,700$490 cheaper homes ($220K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 69%982$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($135K less) · more homeowners
Key West, FL 33040 68%2,284$86,586$819,400$824 older residents · 9 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97216 68%833$70,442$450,800$329 cheaper homes ($351K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 67%2,334$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($304K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85007 67%361$63,616$480,600$340 cheaper homes ($321K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96817 67%2,552$75,476$916,100$590 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · older residents
Portland, OR 97266 67%831$72,577$445,700$302 cheaper homes ($356K less)
Linden, NJ 07036 66%2,443$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($384K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 66%2,449$101,740$483,700$369 cheaper homes ($318K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Long Branch, NJ 07740 66%2,459$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($223K less) · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Dover, NJ 07801 66%2,427$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($409K less) · less walkable
Miami, FL 33166 66%2,333$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($272K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97222 66%829$83,119$490,900$316 cheaper homes ($311K 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.