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 94619

Oakland: median income $129,867, home value $1,025,300, $630/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Roxbury, MA 02132 86%2,677$138,724$746,100$505 cheaper homes ($279K less)
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 84%2,573$157,163$809,200$536 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($216K less)
Melrose, MA 02176 83%2,679$133,953$822,900$494 cheaper homes ($202K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98136 83%674$149,269$925,000$544 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · newer homes
Great Neck, NY 11023 82%2,566$141,003$1,143,400$620 pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Port Washington, NY 11050 82%2,568$154,225$1,035,400$718 newer homes
Wakefield, MA 01880 81%2,679$134,306$723,500$468 cheaper homes ($302K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Rutherford, NJ 07070 81%2,547$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($422K less)
Floral Park, NY 11001 81%2,569$150,000$765,000$563 cheaper homes ($260K less) · more homeowners
Dedham, MA 02026 79%2,677$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($364K less) · older residents
Braintree, MA 02184 79%2,686$122,214$656,800$428 cheaper homes ($369K less)
Cranford, NJ 07016 79%2,539$155,972$660,100$469 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($365K less)
Mineola, NY 11501 79%2,572$137,665$655,500$522 cheaper homes ($370K less) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 78%2,545$144,574$564,700$462 cheaper homes ($461K less)
Leonia, NJ 07605 78%2,552$129,219$672,900$469 cheaper homes ($352K less) · smaller · older residents
Teaneck, NJ 07666 78%2,551$144,075$546,100$431 cheaper homes ($479K less) · larger
Summit, NJ 07901 78%2,535$179,701$987,900$715 higher income ($50K more) · cheaper homes ($37K less)
Seattle, WA 98166 78%668$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($201K less) · newer homes
Swampscott, MA 01907 77%2,687$134,386$771,100$441 cheaper homes ($254K less) · smaller · older residents
River Edge, NJ 07661 77%2,549$159,028$660,300$499 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($365K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98155 77%689$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($209K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 76%2,551$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($534K less)
Metuchen, NJ 08840 76%2,538$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($465K less) · newer homes
Lawrence, NY 11559 76%2,569$142,830$1,229,300$585 pricier homes ($204K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Farmingdale, NY 11735 76%2,583$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($434K less) · more homeowners · 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.