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.

Reset

Towns most like Oakland, CA 94607

Oakland: median income $94,863, home value $720,600, $426/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 88%2,557$94,743$719,600$511 older residents
Harrison, NJ 07029 82%2,550$88,333$499,600$340 cheaper homes ($221K less) · 6 min longer commute
Quincy, MA 02169 81%2,690$96,290$581,600$460 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22311 80%2,424$87,626$760,300$379 pricier homes ($40K more) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Stamford, CT 06902 79%2,577$94,843$510,400$399 cheaper homes ($210K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
East Rutherford, NJ 07073 79%2,551$97,993$458,100$397 cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22304 78%2,424$101,600$508,200$320 cheaper homes ($212K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 77%2,557$93,452$588,200$440 cheaper homes ($132K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Jersey City, NJ 07306 77%2,555$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($205K less) · larger · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19123 77%2,510$102,106$539,500$326 cheaper homes ($181K less) · newer homes
White Plains, NY 10606 76%2,565$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22306 76%2,427$97,132$594,000$343 cheaper homes ($127K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Wallington, NJ 07057 75%2,551$85,862$528,300$392 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller · older homes
New Rochelle, NY 10801 75%2,566$85,573$575,300$378 cheaper homes ($145K less) · older homes
Denver, CO 80204 75%938$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07307 74%2,555$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($138K less) · older homes
Framingham, MA 01702 73%2,667$82,496$583,000$340 cheaper homes ($138K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Arlington, VA 22204 73%2,425$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Malden, MA 02148 72%2,684$100,606$633,500$451 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · older homes
Jersey City, NJ 07304 72%2,554$70,986$537,200$429 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · older homes
Hackensack, NJ 07601 72%2,553$84,277$393,700$388 cheaper homes ($327K less) · larger · older residents
West New York, NJ 07093 71%2,557$73,174$431,500$445 cheaper homes ($289K less) · larger
Falls Church, VA 22044 71%2,422$101,034$775,600$339 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22303 71%2,427$103,656$552,800$386 cheaper homes ($168K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 71%2,427$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($144K more) · smaller · 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.