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 Emeryville, CA 94608

Emeryville: median income $120,239, home value $849,600, $508/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98119 91%677$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($198K more)
Alexandria, VA 22305 88%2,426$113,537$864,500$521 smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80205 88%940$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($200K less)
Seattle, WA 98102 88%677$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($114K more)
Silver Spring, MD 20910 86%2,425$112,134$730,900$364 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Arlington, VA 22204 86%2,424$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · less walkable
Bellevue, WA 98007 86%676$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($169K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98122 85%675$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($108K more) · newer homes
White Plains, NY 10606 82%2,564$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98144 82%674$96,969$901,700$489 pricier homes ($52K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Waltham, MA 02453 80%2,675$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($145K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Washington, DC 20001 79%2,427$138,059$852,600$552 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98103 79%680$131,154$1,044,100$570 pricier homes ($195K more) · larger · more homeowners
Rockville, MD 20852 78%2,420$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($184K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22203 78%2,423$140,135$826,800$511 newer homes
Austin, TX 78704 78%1,493$106,897$916,100$507 pricier homes ($67K more) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Denver, CO 80211 78%937$121,439$807,100$442 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98116 78%673$126,151$973,400$612 pricier homes ($124K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Weehawken, NJ 07086 77%2,556$127,763$889,000$672 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 77%2,556$94,743$719,600$511 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80206 77%941$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($66K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 77%683$99,868$874,300$489 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20002 76%2,429$120,337$826,400$494 larger · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Fairfax, VA 22031 76%2,415$134,577$723,600$356 cheaper homes ($126K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98107 76%679$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($104K more) · 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.