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 Benicia, CA 94510

Benicia: median income $121,204, home value $810,000, $431/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Edmonds, WA 98026 96%675$133,638$821,700$450 Very close on everything we compare
Mukilteo, WA 98275 92%681$132,861$884,900$418 pricier homes ($75K more)
Belmar, NJ 07719 91%2,550$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($109K less) · older homes
Springfield, VA 22150 91%2,410$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Tacoma, WA 98407 90%637$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Danvers, MA 01923 89%2,675$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($166K less) · older homes
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 89%804$109,129$798,900$438 smaller · younger residents
Aiea, HI 96701 89%2,415$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($132K more)
Mililani, HI 96789 89%2,417$127,066$920,400$602 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98155 89%669$131,540$816,400$460 older homes
Annapolis, MD 21403 88%2,444$123,329$582,500$366 cheaper homes ($228K less)
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 88%2,558$131,216$745,700$351 cheaper homes ($64K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98166 88%648$114,969$824,400$420 older homes
Burlington, MA 01803 87%2,663$146,436$740,600$441 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($69K less)
Nanuet, NY 10954 87%2,540$116,332$533,000$383 cheaper homes ($277K less)
Renton, WA 98058 87%648$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger · younger residents
Stoneham, MA 02180 86%2,668$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($138K less) · older homes
Lynnwood, WA 98037 86%675$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Norwalk, CT 06851 85%2,570$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($223K less) · older homes
Annandale, VA 22003 85%2,408$138,794$732,400$338 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · older homes
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 85%2,371$117,724$582,400$386 cheaper homes ($228K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Pearl City, HI 96782 85%2,416$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($64K more)
Kenmore, WA 98028 85%669$139,764$920,800$474 pricier homes ($111K more) · younger residents
Renton, WA 98056 85%652$113,688$797,300$467 younger residents · more renters
Mansfield, MA 02048 84%2,669$125,273$603,500$353 cheaper homes ($207K less) · less walkable

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.