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 Alameda, CA 94501

Alameda: median income $127,906, home value $1,250,300, $717/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98116 86%677$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($277K less) · smaller · newer homes
Miami, FL 33133 79%2,582$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($228K less) · smaller · newer homes
Harrison, NY 10528 77%2,569$154,416$937,500$598 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($313K less) · smaller
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 77%2,568$126,417$729,600$560 cheaper homes ($521K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 76%687$99,868$874,300$489 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($376K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98144 75%678$96,969$901,700$489 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($349K less) · smaller
Medford, MA 02155 74%2,682$129,700$755,500$496 cheaper homes ($495K less) · younger residents · older homes
Greenwich, CT 06830 74%2,573$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($410K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Montclair, NJ 07042 74%2,546$122,847$821,700$590 cheaper homes ($429K less) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98103 74%684$131,154$1,044,100$570 cheaper homes ($206K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Tarrytown, NY 10591 73%2,561$104,984$681,000$564 cheaper homes ($569K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80211 72%938$121,439$807,100$442 cheaper homes ($443K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98118 72%675$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($440K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Watertown, MA 02472 71%2,679$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($466K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33134 71%2,578$99,766$711,800$594 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($539K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98119 71%682$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($203K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98126 71%675$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($467K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Quincy, MA 02171 70%2,688$106,885$662,900$512 cheaper homes ($587K less) · smaller
Arlington, MA 02474 70%2,680$150,560$933,200$598 cheaper homes ($317K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Bayside, NY 11361 70%2,569$105,932$918,700$624 cheaper homes ($332K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Port Chester, NY 10573 69%2,570$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($587K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80209 69%940$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($232K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98133 69%689$93,662$770,300$459 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($480K less) · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22305 68%2,427$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($386K less) · smaller · younger residents
Miami, FL 33143 68%2,579$83,008$857,200$738 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($393K less) · smaller

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.