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 94612

Oakland: median income $74,037, home value $827,800, $439/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, VA 22311 84%2,423$87,626$760,300$379 cheaper homes ($68K less) · less walkable
Denver, CO 80246 78%942$67,235$716,400$405 cheaper homes ($111K less) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98104 73%677$61,460$616,000$596 cheaper homes ($212K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Jersey City, NJ 07306 70%2,554$74,953$516,000$478 cheaper homes ($312K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Harrison, NJ 07029 69%2,549$88,333$499,600$340 cheaper homes ($328K less) · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97232 68%534$70,895$781,200$326 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120 67%2,683$64,289$885,900$485 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 67%2,556$94,743$719,600$511 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80203 66%939$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($357K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98402 66%653$60,505$531,300$438 cheaper homes ($297K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97205 64%533$57,288$637,100$387 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Jersey City, NJ 07304 63%2,553$70,986$537,200$429 cheaper homes ($291K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Astoria, NY 11106 63%2,560$84,867$610,400$652 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33130 62%2,582$61,009$517,300$536 cheaper homes ($311K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97201 62%532$63,250$673,600$303 cheaper homes ($154K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Renton, WA 98057 61%668$68,552$648,800$376 cheaper homes ($179K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Brighton, MA 02135 59%2,680$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · younger residents
West New York, NJ 07093 59%2,556$73,174$431,500$445 cheaper homes ($396K less) · larger · more homeowners
New York, NY 10044 59%2,559$103,347$1,034,100$967 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($206K more) · smaller
Portland, OR 97209 59%534$80,301$587,300$343 cheaper homes ($241K less) · 11 min shorter commute · newer homes
Manchester, NH 03101 58%2,656$84,434$429,300$238 cheaper homes ($399K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10026 58%2,559$81,244$1,052,300$901 pricier homes ($225K more) · larger · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19123 58%2,509$102,106$539,500$326 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($288K less) · more homeowners
Addison, TX 75001 58%1,466$73,514$468,800$259 cheaper homes ($359K less) · 10 min shorter commute · newer homes
Denver, CO 80218 58%940$81,706$676,700$398 cheaper homes ($151K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more homeowners

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.