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 El Cerrito, CA 94530

El Cerrito: median income $128,529, home value $1,114,100, $771/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Port Washington, NY 11050 89%2,570$154,225$1,035,400$718 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($79K less)
Seattle, WA 98136 89%665$149,269$925,000$544 cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller
Summit, NJ 07901 83%2,538$179,701$987,900$715 higher income ($51K more) · cheaper homes ($126K less)
West Roxbury, MA 02132 82%2,679$138,724$746,100$505 cheaper homes ($368K less)
Seattle, WA 98126 79%665$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($330K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33156 78%2,583$137,076$1,120,100$619 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners · newer homes
Melrose, MA 02176 77%2,681$133,953$822,900$494 cheaper homes ($291K less) · older homes
Harrison, NY 10528 77%2,567$154,416$937,500$598 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller
Mineola, NY 11501 76%2,574$137,665$655,500$522 cheaper homes ($459K less)
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 75%2,576$157,163$809,200$536 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($305K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98199 75%673$180,789$1,198,700$629 higher income ($52K more) · pricier homes ($85K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Wakefield, MA 01880 74%2,681$134,306$723,500$468 cheaper homes ($391K less) · less walkable
Greenwich, CT 06830 74%2,571$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($547K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Rutherford, NJ 07070 74%2,549$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($511K less)
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 74%2,567$126,417$729,600$560 cheaper homes ($385K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98115 74%675$156,142$1,094,600$578 higher income ($28K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Waltham, MA 02451 73%2,673$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($361K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Tuckahoe, NY 10707 73%2,562$130,957$773,200$493 cheaper homes ($341K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98116 73%667$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($141K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98118 73%665$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($304K less) · larger · newer homes
Swampscott, MA 01907 72%2,689$134,386$771,100$441 cheaper homes ($343K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Arlington, MA 02476 72%2,676$151,131$934,800$609 cheaper homes ($179K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Great Neck, NY 11023 72%2,569$141,003$1,143,400$620 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20012 72%2,425$121,418$863,900$421 cheaper homes ($250K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Kailua, HI 96734 72%2,394$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($254K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute

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.