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 Van Nuys, CA 91401

Van Nuys: median income $79,552, home value $1,047,700, $680/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jamaica, NY 11432 78%2,463$74,096$864,900$597 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33138 78%2,345$75,051$784,700$560 cheaper homes ($263K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Long Branch, NJ 07740 76%2,455$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($469K less)
Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 76%2,463$81,258$922,200$728 cheaper homes ($126K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Quincy, MA 02169 74%2,600$96,290$581,600$460 cheaper homes ($466K less) · larger
Takoma Park, MD 20912 73%2,303$83,870$699,300$413 cheaper homes ($348K less) · smaller · older homes
Honolulu, HI 96817 73%2,550$75,476$916,100$590 cheaper homes ($132K less) · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 72%2,452$94,743$719,600$511 cheaper homes ($328K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98133 72%958$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($277K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Staten Island, NY 10304 71%2,448$71,561$678,700$475 cheaper homes ($369K less) · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
New Rochelle, NY 10801 71%2,462$85,573$575,300$378 cheaper homes ($472K less)
Framingham, MA 01702 70%2,578$82,496$583,000$340 cheaper homes ($465K less)
Revere, MA 02151 70%2,599$86,969$597,400$421 cheaper homes ($450K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80214 70%831$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($489K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Malden, MA 02148 68%2,596$100,606$633,500$451 cheaper homes ($414K less) · larger · older homes
Jersey City, NJ 07307 68%2,449$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($465K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
White Plains, NY 10606 67%2,462$112,270$682,300$492 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($365K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33143 67%2,343$83,008$857,200$738 cheaper homes ($191K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33166 67%2,339$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($517K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98144 67%948$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($146K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
College Point, NY 11356 66%2,460$86,730$909,200$573 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · 12 min longer commute
Woodside, NY 11377 66%2,457$73,073$727,200$586 cheaper homes ($321K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98125 66%957$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($173K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Hyde Park, MA 02136 65%2,594$96,737$578,400$426 cheaper homes ($469K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 65%2,452$93,452$588,200$440 cheaper homes ($460K less) · smaller · more homeowners

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.