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 La Palma, CA 90623

La Palma: median income $116,594, home value $979,600, $562/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98166 88%966$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Tacoma, WA 98407 87%957$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($323K less)
Edmonds, WA 98020 85%990$130,319$1,031,500$625 pricier homes ($52K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Belmar, NJ 07719 84%2,440$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($279K less) · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98155 84%986$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Waltham, MA 02451 83%2,577$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($227K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Valhalla, NY 10595 83%2,451$123,438$723,100$451 cheaper homes ($257K less) · smaller
Edmonds, WA 98026 83%992$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33156 82%2,320$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98118 82%971$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger · younger residents
Stoneham, MA 02180 81%2,585$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($308K less) · larger
Red Bank, NJ 07701 81%2,439$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($395K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98126 81%973$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($196K less) · younger residents
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 80%2,441$123,152$627,200$556 cheaper homes ($352K less) · larger · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98136 80%973$149,269$925,000$544 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($55K less) · older homes
Dedham, MA 02026 79%2,582$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($318K less) · larger · less walkable
Narragansett, RI 02882 79%2,570$95,721$749,700$555 cheaper homes ($230K less) · more single-family homes
Wakefield, MA 01880 78%2,586$134,306$723,500$468 cheaper homes ($256K less) · larger · older homes
Swampscott, MA 01907 78%2,594$134,386$771,100$441 cheaper homes ($209K less) · older homes
Danvers, MA 01923 78%2,592$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($335K less) · larger · less walkable
Mililani, HI 96789 78%2,573$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · newer homes
Braintree, MA 02184 77%2,591$122,214$656,800$428 cheaper homes ($323K less) · larger · older homes
Mineola, NY 11501 77%2,460$137,665$655,500$522 cheaper homes ($324K less) · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22042 77%2,280$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($264K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704 77%2,131$107,889$753,600$451 cheaper homes ($226K less) · 9 min shorter commute · older homes

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.