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 Spring Valley, CA 91978

Spring Valley: median income $113,170, home value $637,200, $504/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amityville, NY 11701 88%2,448$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 88%713$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($162K more) · larger
Amesbury, MA 01913 85%2,574$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Pearl City, HI 96782 85%2,623$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($237K more) · larger
Steilacoom, WA 98388 85%1,040$100,851$655,000$377 Very close on everything we compare
North Billerica, MA 01862 84%2,556$138,571$586,200$367 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($51K less)
Eatontown, NJ 07724 83%2,414$102,756$522,100$381 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · older residents
Everett, WA 98203 83%1,086$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Haverhill, MA 01835 82%2,567$113,578$468,800$311 cheaper homes ($168K less)
Weymouth, MA 02188 82%2,573$107,335$594,000$396 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Plainville, MA 02762 82%2,554$104,106$476,000$337 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Norwalk, CT 06851 82%2,448$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Aiea, HI 96701 82%2,622$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($304K more) · larger
Lynnwood, WA 98037 81%1,080$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 81%1,077$107,687$667,100$438 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98146 81%1,059$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · older homes
University Place, WA 98467 81%1,042$91,354$623,800$326 larger
Sayreville, NJ 08872 80%2,399$97,489$447,200$362 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger
Springfield, VA 22150 80%2,251$123,114$635,900$335 larger
Ayer, MA 01432 79%2,541$101,966$463,800$344 cheaper homes ($173K less) · 6 min longer commute
Hudson, MA 01749 79%2,542$103,400$496,800$357 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
Saugus, MA 01906 79%2,570$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older homes
Peabody, MA 01960 79%2,573$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older homes
Neptune, NJ 07753 79%2,414$95,712$425,800$371 cheaper homes ($211K less) · larger
Islip, NY 11751 79%2,458$116,559$563,100$434 cheaper homes ($74K less) · more homeowners · more single-family 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.