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 Castro Valley, CA 94546

Castro Valley: median income $128,385, home value $1,043,500, $661/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kaneohe, HI 96744 88%2,404$131,653$1,039,900$690 newer homes
Seattle, WA 98166 85%674$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($219K less) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 83%2,412$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($169K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Honolulu, HI 96816 83%2,409$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($125K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Braintree, MA 02184 82%2,683$122,214$656,800$428 cheaper homes ($387K less)
Westbury, NY 11590 82%2,572$152,960$633,800$516 cheaper homes ($410K less)
Seattle, WA 98118 82%680$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($233K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 81%695$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($227K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98146 80%677$102,520$679,500$451 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($364K less) · smaller
Kailua, HI 96734 79%2,401$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($324K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Edmonds, WA 98026 79%700$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($222K less) · newer homes
Falls Church, VA 22042 78%2,411$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($328K less)
Aiea, HI 96701 78%2,411$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Mililani, HI 96789 78%2,413$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($123K less) · newer homes
Danvers, MA 01923 77%2,681$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($399K less) · smaller
Dedham, MA 02026 77%2,674$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($382K less) · smaller
Farmingdale, NY 11735 77%2,579$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($452K less) · more homeowners
New Milford, NJ 07646 76%2,546$114,889$580,400$467 cheaper homes ($463K less) · smaller
Wakefield, MA 01880 75%2,675$134,306$723,500$468 cheaper homes ($320K less) · smaller
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 75%2,547$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($552K less) · smaller
Red Bank, NJ 07701 75%2,552$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($459K less) · smaller
Belmar, NJ 07719 75%2,554$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($343K less) · smaller · older residents
Waltham, MA 02451 74%2,668$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($291K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
West Babylon, NY 11704 74%2,583$129,195$527,500$459 cheaper homes ($516K less)
Beverly, MA 01915 73%2,684$104,918$649,700$475 cheaper homes ($394K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.