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 Torrance, CA 90502

Torrance: median income $94,291, home value $697,400, $557/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 89%987$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 88%968$102,520$679,500$451 larger
Seattle, WA 98108 87%970$95,780$720,400$423 younger residents
Miami, FL 33176 85%2,330$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Aiea, HI 96701 85%2,556$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($244K more) · larger · less walkable
Pearl City, HI 96782 85%2,557$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($177K more) · larger · less walkable
Everett, WA 98203 84%996$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Woburn, MA 01801 83%2,595$111,185$673,500$456 larger · more renters
Peabody, MA 01960 83%2,605$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · less walkable
Lynnwood, WA 98036 83%988$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · newer homes
Lynnwood, WA 98037 83%990$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · newer homes
Saugus, MA 01906 82%2,603$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Amesbury, MA 01913 82%2,605$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($178K less) · less walkable
Little Falls, NJ 07424 82%2,443$105,050$487,600$384 cheaper homes ($210K less) · larger
Eatontown, NJ 07724 82%2,453$102,756$522,100$381 cheaper homes ($175K less) · older residents · less walkable
Miami, FL 33155 82%2,331$81,158$581,700$490 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · older homes
Tacoma, WA 98407 82%955$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Bristol, RI 02809 81%2,592$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($212K less)
Glen Cove, NY 11542 81%2,474$93,242$702,400$499 larger · more renters · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 81%2,331$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($199K less) · more renters
Tacoma, WA 98466 81%952$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more renters
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 80%2,448$111,711$524,400$439 cheaper homes ($173K less) · older homes
Middlesex, NJ 08846 80%2,429$105,000$446,400$378 cheaper homes ($251K less) · more single-family homes
Amityville, NY 11701 80%2,485$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger · less walkable
Miami, FL 33173 80%2,329$88,271$479,500$368 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute

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.