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 Mateo, CA 94401

San Mateo: median income $122,227, home value $1,184,500, $789/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Harrison, NY 10604 76%2,575$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($449K less) · smaller
Waltham, MA 02452 75%2,685$118,431$808,300$429 cheaper homes ($376K less) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22305 74%2,433$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($320K less) · smaller · more walkable
Honolulu, HI 96822 73%2,394$95,947$1,003,400$551 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($181K less) · older residents
Port Chester, NY 10573 71%2,578$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($522K less) · more walkable
White Plains, NY 10606 71%2,573$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($502K less) · smaller · more walkable
Miami, FL 33133 70%2,583$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($162K less) · more walkable · newer homes
Woburn, MA 01801 68%2,687$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($511K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22204 68%2,431$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($497K less)
Honolulu, HI 96818 68%2,397$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($517K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Bellevue, WA 98007 68%694$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($166K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98125 68%701$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($310K less) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Waltham, MA 02453 67%2,685$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($479K less) · more walkable
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 67%2,570$96,725$616,300$447 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($568K less)
Seattle, WA 98116 67%691$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($211K less) · more walkable
Tarrytown, NY 10591 65%2,569$104,984$681,000$564 cheaper homes ($504K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Avon, CO 81620 65%864$102,775$861,500$950 cheaper homes ($323K less) · smaller · newer homes
Norwood, MA 02062 64%2,689$107,030$651,700$432 cheaper homes ($533K less) · more single-family homes
Quincy, MA 02171 64%2,696$106,885$662,900$512 cheaper homes ($522K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Portsmouth, NH 03801 64%2,697$106,756$699,900$534 cheaper homes ($485K less) · smaller · older residents
Harrison, NY 10528 64%2,577$154,416$937,500$598 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($247K less) · smaller
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 64%2,576$126,417$729,600$560 cheaper homes ($455K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Miami Beach, FL 33140 64%2,585$107,063$866,900$623 cheaper homes ($318K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33143 64%2,580$83,008$857,200$738 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($327K less)
Kirkland, WA 98034 64%701$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($238K 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.