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 94609

Oakland: median income $107,834, home value $1,207,700, $653/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Montclair, NJ 07042 82%2,544$122,847$821,700$590 cheaper homes ($386K less) · more homeowners
Somerville, MA 02145 80%2,681$123,755$828,600$598 cheaper homes ($379K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Somerville, MA 02143 78%2,681$130,753$926,800$769 cheaper homes ($281K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22305 75%2,425$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($343K less) · newer homes
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 74%2,681$131,551$822,300$642 cheaper homes ($385K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Watertown, MA 02472 74%2,677$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($423K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98403 74%652$88,056$829,800$391 cheaper homes ($378K less) · smaller
Washington, DC 20010 72%2,425$114,126$886,600$471 cheaper homes ($321K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Somerville, MA 02144 71%2,680$150,313$988,800$713 higher income ($42K more) · cheaper homes ($219K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Waltham, MA 02453 71%2,675$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($503K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Medford, MA 02155 70%2,680$129,700$755,500$496 cheaper homes ($452K less) · larger · more homeowners
Boston, MA 02118 69%2,683$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 cheaper homes ($150K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Cambridge, MA 02140 69%2,679$135,286$1,149,800$931 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($58K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98119 68%677$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($160K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Brookline, MA 02445 67%2,680$139,747$1,227,000$776 higher income ($32K more) · more homeowners
Brookline, MA 02446 67%2,680$131,963$1,181,500$843 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 67%2,559$104,984$681,000$564 cheaper homes ($527K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80211 67%937$121,439$807,100$442 cheaper homes ($401K less) · larger · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97210 67%532$93,621$991,200$376 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97214 67%531$87,131$771,800$338 cheaper homes ($436K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Cambridge, MA 02139 66%2,681$134,586$1,087,500$965 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20002 65%2,428$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($381K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Cambridge, MA 02138 64%2,680$119,967$1,212,400$919 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Quincy, MA 02170 64%2,687$103,627$668,300$487 cheaper homes ($539K less) · more homeowners
Astoria, NY 11105 64%2,560$102,012$1,081,200$725 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · 9 min longer 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.