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 94502

Alameda: median income $180,938, home value $1,204,200, $658/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hingham, MA 02043 80%2,695$178,390$1,134,200$550 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · less walkable
Needham Heights, MA 02494 78%2,677$179,720$1,107,700$530 cheaper homes ($97K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Miami, FL 33158 78%2,578$201,597$1,026,600$599 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Lexington, MA 02421 77%2,676$227,813$1,205,700$558 higher income ($47K more) · older homes
Woodbury, NY 11797 77%2,584$192,609$1,007,000$595 cheaper homes ($197K less) · less walkable
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 77%685$172,188$1,155,900$553 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · less walkable
New Providence, NJ 07974 76%2,537$172,894$758,400$549 cheaper homes ($446K less) · older homes
Jericho, NY 11753 75%2,581$175,781$979,800$593 cheaper homes ($224K less) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Honolulu, HI 96825 75%2,395$153,210$1,088,700$759 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger
Southport, CT 06890 73%2,588$218,841$1,212,500$550 higher income ($38K more) · smaller · less walkable
Allendale, NJ 07401 73%2,547$160,162$782,700$485 cheaper homes ($422K less) · smaller · less walkable
Brielle, NJ 08730 73%2,563$172,250$849,100$641 cheaper homes ($355K less) · smaller · older homes
Manasquan, NJ 08736 72%2,563$174,097$880,900$691 cheaper homes ($323K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Cresskill, NJ 07626 71%2,557$170,376$811,400$547 cheaper homes ($393K less) · older homes
Eastchester, NY 10709 71%2,564$170,417$847,900$497 cheaper homes ($356K less) · older homes
Miami, FL 33156 71%2,579$137,076$1,120,100$619 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Bellevue, WA 98006 71%679$198,150$1,388,500$592 pricier homes ($184K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Vienna, VA 22180 70%2,415$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($263K less) · larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98177 70%692$169,918$1,048,900$544 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Concord, MA 01742 69%2,668$195,125$1,218,100$517 less walkable · older homes
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 69%2,560$178,958$811,400$497 cheaper homes ($393K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 69%2,561$220,771$863,300$450 higher income ($40K more) · cheaper homes ($341K less) · older residents
Irvington, NY 10533 69%2,561$174,038$874,400$588 cheaper homes ($330K less) · smaller · less walkable
Vienna, VA 22181 69%2,413$211,911$998,300$402 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($206K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 68%2,575$182,674$988,300$581 cheaper homes ($216K less) · more single-family homes · older 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.