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 Norwalk, CA 90650

Norwalk: median income $100,085, home value $644,700, $614/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Uniondale, NY 11553 81%2,463$121,127$511,600$510 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Brockton, MA 02302 77%2,591$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller
Freeport, NY 11520 77%2,463$121,748$506,100$406 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
West Babylon, NY 11704 77%2,475$129,195$527,500$459 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller
Saugus, MA 01906 76%2,589$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98146 76%965$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98178 76%963$99,505$660,400$367 smaller
Copiague, NY 11726 75%2,473$128,425$481,500$468 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller
Bay Shore, NY 11706 74%2,481$119,603$494,300$426 cheaper homes ($150K less) · less walkable
Miami, FL 33155 73%2,320$81,158$581,700$490 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98168 73%964$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · more renters
Lynn, MA 01904 72%2,592$99,614$560,500$391 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lindenhurst, NY 11757 72%2,474$127,889$508,100$439 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33157 72%2,321$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($97K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Methuen, MA 01844 71%2,580$113,212$499,800$341 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 71%2,570$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($230K more) · smaller · older residents
Everett, WA 98203 71%993$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · newer homes
Union, NJ 07083 70%2,428$121,887$455,300$392 cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller
Elmont, NY 11003 70%2,457$124,115$599,000$555 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · 11 min longer commute
Hollywood, FL 33023 70%2,318$74,709$380,000$342 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($265K less)
Miami, FL 33165 70%2,317$85,200$519,700$405 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller · older residents
Amityville, NY 11701 69%2,472$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · older residents
Linden, NJ 07036 68%2,429$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($227K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Hillside, NJ 07205 68%2,430$99,528$397,400$353 cheaper homes ($247K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Hempstead, NY 11550 68%2,462$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · more renters

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.