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 San Fernando, CA 91340

San Fernando: median income $85,261, home value $661,500, $538/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brockton, MA 02302 79%2,598$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($237K less)
Uniondale, NY 11553 78%2,471$121,127$511,600$510 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($150K less)
Seattle, WA 98168 78%934$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Denver, CO 80219 77%827$68,415$454,600$344 cheaper homes ($207K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98408 75%917$80,899$410,500$320 cheaper homes ($251K less) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33023 74%2,340$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($282K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98404 74%917$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($248K less) · newer homes
Saugus, MA 01906 73%2,595$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Plainfield, NJ 07063 73%2,427$93,304$392,500$383 cheaper homes ($269K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98178 73%933$99,505$660,400$367 Very close on everything we compare
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 72%2,340$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($289K less) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33155 72%2,342$81,158$581,700$490 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older residents
Miami, FL 33167 72%2,342$62,846$381,100$335 cheaper homes ($280K less)
Miami, FL 33168 72%2,343$65,777$383,000$376 cheaper homes ($279K less)
South River, NJ 08882 71%2,431$96,147$405,200$331 cheaper homes ($256K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33165 71%2,339$85,200$519,700$405 cheaper homes ($142K less) · older residents
Lynn, MA 01904 70%2,598$99,614$560,500$391 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Hillside, NJ 07205 70%2,437$99,528$397,400$353 cheaper homes ($264K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98146 70%935$102,520$679,500$451 Very close on everything we compare
Plainfield, NJ 07062 69%2,429$98,344$396,100$417 cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller
Freeport, NY 11520 69%2,471$121,748$506,100$406 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($155K less) · 6 min longer commute
Hempstead, NY 11550 69%2,469$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger · more renters
Copiague, NY 11726 69%2,481$128,425$481,500$468 higher income ($43K more) · cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 69%2,339$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($238K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Linden, NJ 07036 68%2,436$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($244K 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.