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 Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Walnut Creek: median income $135,635, home value $1,277,800, $653/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98116 89%668$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($304K less)
Bellevue, WA 98007 81%671$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($260K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Bellevue, WA 98005 80%671$160,849$1,519,500$613 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($242K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Bethesda, MD 20814 79%2,408$150,996$989,600$425 cheaper homes ($288K less)
Seattle, WA 98119 79%673$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($230K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more walkable
Harrison, NY 10528 78%2,555$154,416$937,500$598 cheaper homes ($340K less) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98103 78%675$131,154$1,044,100$570 cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Mc Lean, VA 22102 77%2,402$153,949$955,500$417 cheaper homes ($322K less) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80209 77%927$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($260K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33133 76%2,571$103,420$1,022,400$923 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($255K less) · larger
Plainsboro, NJ 08536 75%2,520$137,607$704,100$404 cheaper homes ($574K less)
Fairfax, VA 22031 74%2,402$134,577$723,600$356 cheaper homes ($554K less) · larger
Falls Church, VA 22043 74%2,405$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($396K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98107 74%675$142,662$953,400$553 cheaper homes ($324K less) · more walkable · newer homes
Weehawken, NJ 07086 73%2,542$127,763$889,000$672 cheaper homes ($389K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Redmond, WA 98052 72%675$163,460$1,180,600$620 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Greenwich, CT 06830 71%2,559$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($383K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22314 71%2,414$148,451$899,000$624 cheaper homes ($379K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98144 71%669$96,969$901,700$489 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($376K less) · more walkable
Cambridge, MA 02140 70%2,667$135,286$1,149,800$931 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22046 70%2,406$168,882$1,014,700$476 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($263K less) · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 70%2,413$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($413K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Bothell, WA 98011 70%680$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($345K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 70%678$99,868$874,300$489 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($404K less) · larger
Rockville, MD 20852 69%2,407$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($613K less) · larger

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.