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 Hayward, CA 94542

Hayward: median income $133,734, home value $1,148,000, $606/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carbondale, CO 81623 81%810$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($235K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Renton, WA 98059 81%680$138,654$872,000$451 cheaper homes ($276K less) · larger · younger residents
Kaneohe, HI 96744 80%2,404$131,653$1,039,900$690 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Honolulu, HI 96825 80%2,404$153,210$1,088,700$759 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · older residents
Kenmore, WA 98028 80%698$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 79%2,572$157,923$936,300$484 cheaper homes ($212K less) · older homes
Hampton Bays, NY 11946 79%2,623$133,918$737,400$659 cheaper homes ($411K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Mililani, HI 96789 79%2,414$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Edmonds, WA 98026 79%703$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($326K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Saint James, NY 11780 77%2,591$144,577$723,200$466 cheaper homes ($425K less) · more homeowners
Burlington, MA 01803 76%2,668$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($407K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
North Reading, MA 01864 76%2,673$147,768$710,500$425 cheaper homes ($438K less) · less walkable
Oceanport, NJ 07757 76%2,554$126,094$757,700$524 cheaper homes ($390K less) · smaller · older residents
Belmar, NJ 07719 75%2,554$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($447K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Greenlawn, NY 11740 75%2,580$152,386$693,700$461 cheaper homes ($454K less) · older homes
Sayville, NY 11782 75%2,596$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($511K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
North Bend, WA 98045 75%678$175,765$938,500$494 higher income ($42K more) · cheaper homes ($210K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Mukilteo, WA 98275 75%709$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($263K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Marshfield, MA 02050 74%2,699$126,241$679,700$424 cheaper homes ($468K less) · larger · less walkable
Cresskill, NJ 07626 74%2,548$170,376$811,400$547 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($337K less) · smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 74%2,549$131,216$745,700$351 cheaper homes ($402K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98155 74%698$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($332K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Gig Harbor, WA 98335 74%667$128,592$791,100$401 cheaper homes ($357K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
East Moriches, NY 11940 73%2,612$138,639$661,600$432 cheaper homes ($486K less) · smaller · less walkable
Miami, FL 33156 73%2,567$137,076$1,120,100$619 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 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.