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 Oakland, CA 94605

Oakland: median income $106,068, home value $849,300, $490/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98146 91%673$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller · newer homes
Beverly, MA 01915 90%2,687$104,918$649,700$475 cheaper homes ($200K less)
Seattle, WA 98166 90%669$114,969$824,400$420 smaller · older residents
New Milford, NJ 07646 88%2,549$114,889$580,400$467 cheaper homes ($269K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98178 87%672$99,505$660,400$367 cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller
Braintree, MA 02184 86%2,685$122,214$656,800$428 cheaper homes ($193K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98118 86%676$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($39K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98108 85%676$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · newer homes
Glen Cove, NY 11542 84%2,570$93,242$702,400$499 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98406 83%657$104,264$638,400$347 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller
Danvers, MA 01923 82%2,683$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller · older residents
Norwood, MA 02062 82%2,675$107,030$651,700$432 cheaper homes ($198K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Stoneham, MA 02180 82%2,677$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller · newer homes
Red Bank, NJ 07701 82%2,555$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller
Woburn, MA 01801 81%2,674$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($176K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Dedham, MA 02026 81%2,677$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · older residents
Norwalk, CT 06851 81%2,578$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($262K less) · smaller · newer homes
Rockville, MD 20851 81%2,415$126,411$568,900$363 cheaper homes ($280K less) · smaller
Silver Spring, MD 20902 81%2,419$114,486$551,200$316 cheaper homes ($298K less)
Falls Church, VA 22042 81%2,414$138,255$715,800$426 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($134K less) · newer homes
Saugus, MA 01906 80%2,681$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($246K less) · smaller · older residents
Waltham, MA 02451 80%2,670$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · newer homes
Nutley, NJ 07110 80%2,544$119,646$517,500$421 cheaper homes ($332K less)
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 80%2,550$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($358K less) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 80%2,409$108,669$874,200$603 newer homes

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.