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 Torrance, CA 90504

Torrance: median income $107,552, home value $923,900, $714/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honolulu, HI 96816 92%2,550$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($245K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98166 86%961$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 85%965$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($244K less)
Pearl City, HI 96782 84%2,556$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($50K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98118 84%967$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Waltham, MA 02451 83%2,591$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller
New Milford, NJ 07646 82%2,454$114,889$580,400$467 cheaper homes ($344K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98108 81%967$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($204K less) · younger residents
Glen Cove, NY 11542 80%2,474$93,242$702,400$499 cheaper homes ($222K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33134 80%2,335$99,766$711,800$594 cheaper homes ($212K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Aiea, HI 96701 80%2,555$111,173$941,600$542 newer homes
Seattle, WA 98126 80%968$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Tacoma, WA 98407 80%952$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($267K less) · smaller · newer homes
Woburn, MA 01801 79%2,596$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($250K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Beverly, MA 01915 79%2,610$104,918$649,700$475 cheaper homes ($274K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704 79%2,148$107,889$753,600$451 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85018 79%365$93,885$862,000$517 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 79%981$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Kailua, HI 96734 78%2,543$132,782$1,367,600$904 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($444K more) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98406 78%950$104,264$638,400$347 cheaper homes ($286K less)
Miami, FL 33155 77%2,334$81,158$581,700$490 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($342K less)
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 77%984$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($257K less) · newer homes
Stoneham, MA 02180 76%2,599$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($252K less)
Kaneohe, HI 96744 76%2,547$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · more homeowners
Danvers, MA 01923 75%2,606$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($280K less) · less walkable

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.