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 Long Beach, CA 90810

Long Beach: median income $84,350, home value $614,400, $529/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98168 87%968$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Brockton, MA 02302 80%2,602$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($190K less)
Dover, NJ 07801 80%2,423$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($222K less)
South Amboy, NJ 08879 80%2,439$92,786$389,800$360 cheaper homes ($225K less) · smaller
Haledon, NJ 07508 78%2,442$95,806$473,700$344 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 78%2,326$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($191K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98146 78%969$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($65K more)
Peabody, MA 01960 77%2,602$96,501$596,700$406 larger · older residents
Honolulu, HI 96819 77%2,558$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($340K more) · newer homes
Lakewood, WA 98498 77%949$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($108K less) · newer homes
Saugus, MA 01906 76%2,600$101,539$603,400$393 older residents
Plainfield, NJ 07063 76%2,429$93,304$392,500$383 cheaper homes ($222K less) · smaller
Patchogue, NY 11772 76%2,505$105,245$474,800$400 cheaper homes ($140K less) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80219 76%835$68,415$454,600$344 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · more walkable
Astoria, OR 97103 76%901$75,147$460,100$292 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98178 76%967$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($46K more)
Taunton, MA 02780 75%2,597$74,471$413,900$326 cheaper homes ($201K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Linden, NJ 07036 75%2,439$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($197K less) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98198 75%962$86,239$589,500$361 newer homes
Carteret, NJ 07008 74%2,440$97,021$406,000$355 cheaper homes ($208K less) · more walkable
Plainfield, NJ 07062 74%2,431$98,344$396,100$417 cheaper homes ($218K less) · smaller · more walkable
Glen Cove, NY 11542 74%2,471$93,242$702,400$499 pricier homes ($88K more) · older residents
New Bedford, MA 02745 73%2,607$74,034$368,600$316 cheaper homes ($246K less) · more walkable
Hillside, NJ 07205 73%2,440$99,528$397,400$353 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller · more walkable
Amityville, NY 11701 73%2,483$117,033$499,500$442 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($115K less) · older residents

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.