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 94621

Oakland: median income $52,049, home value $543,700, $431/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33150 85%2,574$40,873$453,400$404 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Aurora, CO 80010 84%942$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($119K less) · newer homes
Opa Locka, FL 33054 81%2,570$45,710$335,800$398 cheaper homes ($208K less) · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33127 81%2,576$41,230$408,800$464 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Miami, FL 33147 81%2,573$50,704$381,000$374 cheaper homes ($163K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33161 80%2,575$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · newer homes
Lake Worth, FL 33460 80%2,557$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($138K less) · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85006 80%642$58,248$408,100$311 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33162 77%2,573$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($140K less) · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85007 76%640$63,616$480,600$340 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 74%2,543$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger · older residents
Lawrence, MA 01843 72%2,672$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($115K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Plainfield, NJ 07060 72%2,534$78,602$393,800$348 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($150K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Hollywood, FL 33020 72%2,572$56,473$353,300$324 cheaper homes ($190K less) · older residents · newer homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 72%2,566$53,973$309,300$302 cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger · newer homes
Portland, OR 97233 72%536$60,198$414,600$267 cheaper homes ($129K less) · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98444 72%649$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($127K less) · newer homes
Lowell, MA 01850 71%2,665$69,780$390,800$313 cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Everett, WA 98201 71%707$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents
Lakewood, WA 98499 71%650$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($135K less) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33142 70%2,574$39,608$349,000$351 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · older residents
Miami, FL 33169 70%2,571$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($141K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Brockton, MA 02301 69%2,686$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · more homeowners
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 69%2,543$65,511$459,200$321 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Sparks, NV 89431 69%180$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($179K less) · 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.