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 94544

Hayward: median income $107,785, home value $827,200, $599/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waipahu, HI 96797 89%2,414$114,654$826,300$635 newer homes
Honolulu, HI 96819 87%2,409$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 82%702$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller
Woburn, MA 01801 81%2,672$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Pearl City, HI 96782 81%2,412$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98198 80%674$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($238K less) · smaller
Lynnwood, WA 98036 79%703$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · newer homes
Lynnwood, WA 98037 79%705$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · newer homes
Renton, WA 98056 79%682$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98108 79%684$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller
Glen Cove, NY 11542 78%2,568$93,242$702,400$499 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33176 78%2,565$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Seattle, WA 98118 78%684$113,762$810,500$480 smaller
Seattle, WA 98146 78%682$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Hyde Park, MA 02136 77%2,677$96,737$578,400$426 cheaper homes ($249K less) · smaller · older homes
Aiea, HI 96701 77%2,411$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · older residents
Peabody, MA 01960 76%2,682$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($231K less) · older residents
Port Chester, NY 10573 76%2,563$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($164K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Hempstead, NY 11550 76%2,571$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($362K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98106 76%684$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98133 75%698$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Beverly, MA 01915 74%2,686$104,918$649,700$475 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98168 74%681$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($279K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98203 74%712$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($219K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Tacoma, WA 98466 74%663$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($225K 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.