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 Santa Monica, CA 90401

Santa Monica: median income $110,385, home value $1,149,200, $1,151/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98101 77%960$128,882$784,200$657 cheaper homes ($365K less) · larger
New York, NY 10018 73%2,460$145,958$1,044,800$1,183 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($104K less) · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75201 69%1,251$103,761$688,100$614 cheaper homes ($461K less) · larger · younger residents
Cambridge, MA 02141 68%2,603$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($281K less) · larger · younger residents
Cambridge, MA 02142 67%2,603$147,723$1,954,500$1,396 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($805K more) · smaller
Boston, MA 02111 65%2,604$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 cheaper homes ($116K less) · more homeowners · older homes
New York, NY 10036 65%2,460$95,638$952,900$1,304 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98109 65%962$133,663$1,034,100$649 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · younger residents
Boston, MA 02114 64%2,604$132,210$924,400$1,148 cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger · more homeowners
New York, NY 10044 63%2,462$103,347$1,034,100$967 cheaper homes ($115K less) · 14 min longer commute · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22209 60%2,306$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($329K less) · larger · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98121 60%961$152,019$848,400$575 higher income ($42K more) · cheaper homes ($301K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80202 58%843$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($427K less) · larger · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98102 58%961$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($186K less) · larger · more homeowners
Boston, MA 02210 57%2,605$172,124$1,190,900$1,527 higher income ($62K more) · pricier homes ($42K more) · more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37219 57%1,791$105,476$640,700$719 cheaper homes ($509K less) · smaller · younger residents
Long Island City, NY 11101 55%2,463$121,062$971,300$1,596 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
New York, NY 10019 54%2,460$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98122 53%960$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($192K less) · larger · more homeowners
New York, NY 10038 52%2,460$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20037 51%2,308$111,153$685,300$639 cheaper homes ($464K less) · larger · younger residents
Arlington, VA 22202 51%2,307$133,762$899,000$453 cheaper homes ($250K less) · larger · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33122 51%2,343$99,583$2M+*— pricier homes ($851K more) · smaller · less walkable
Stamford, CT 06901 50%2,482$102,641$478,700$463 cheaper homes ($671K less) · younger residents
Arlington, VA 22203 50%2,304$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($322K less) · larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.