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 Whittier, CA 90603

Whittier: median income $136,705, home value $859,000, $552/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Franklin Square, NY 11010 90%2,453$142,321$665,800$609 cheaper homes ($193K less)
Bethpage, NY 11714 86%2,463$120,172$600,700$496 cheaper homes ($258K less)
Farmingdale, NY 11735 86%2,465$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($268K less) · larger
Hicksville, NY 11801 86%2,461$145,788$625,100$528 cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger
Westbury, NY 11590 84%2,458$152,960$633,800$516 cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
West Babylon, NY 11704 84%2,470$129,195$527,500$459 cheaper homes ($332K less) · larger
Lindenhurst, NY 11757 84%2,469$127,889$508,100$439 cheaper homes ($351K less) · larger
East Meadow, NY 11554 83%2,459$133,971$631,800$560 cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger
Deer Park, NY 11729 83%2,471$136,939$539,700$455 cheaper homes ($319K less) · less walkable
Clark, NJ 07066 82%2,420$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($249K less)
Elmont, NY 11003 82%2,451$124,115$599,000$555 cheaper homes ($260K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Levittown, NY 11756 82%2,461$146,019$584,300$460 cheaper homes ($275K less) · larger · more homeowners
Uniondale, NY 11553 81%2,457$121,127$511,600$510 cheaper homes ($347K less)
Valley Stream, NY 11580 81%2,451$137,402$618,800$526 cheaper homes ($240K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Braintree, MA 02184 80%2,585$122,214$656,800$428 cheaper homes ($202K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Paramus, NJ 07652 80%2,431$144,349$813,900$504 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Babylon, NY 11702 80%2,471$137,652$626,900$455 cheaper homes ($232K less) · smaller · older residents
North Babylon, NY 11703 79%2,471$137,158$521,700$424 cheaper homes ($337K less) · less walkable
Copiague, NY 11726 79%2,468$128,425$481,500$468 cheaper homes ($378K less)
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 78%2,415$130,205$470,900$386 cheaper homes ($388K less)
Oceanside, NY 11572 78%2,455$148,790$634,500$487 cheaper homes ($225K less) · more homeowners
Roosevelt, NY 11575 78%2,458$126,146$481,500$427 cheaper homes ($378K less) · 6 min longer commute
East Islip, NY 11730 78%2,479$145,652$594,200$444 cheaper homes ($265K less) · less walkable
Kaneohe, HI 96744 78%2,567$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($181K more) · larger · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98166 78%960$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.