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 Albany, CA 94706

Albany: median income $143,398, home value $1,203,500, $836/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, MA 02474 85%2,678$150,560$933,200$598 cheaper homes ($270K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98112 83%673$171,572$1,549,100$681 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($346K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Newton, MA 02458 81%2,677$153,520$1,136,100$544 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Arlington, MA 02476 81%2,677$151,131$934,800$609 cheaper homes ($269K less) · older residents · older homes
Seattle, WA 98199 81%674$180,789$1,198,700$629 higher income ($37K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Newtonville, MA 02460 80%2,676$177,837$1,224,600$588 higher income ($34K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Belmont, MA 02478 79%2,677$183,137$1,159,000$601 higher income ($40K more) · cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Greenwich, CT 06830 79%2,571$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($457K more) · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98115 79%677$156,142$1,094,600$578 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Auburndale, MA 02466 78%2,674$170,089$1,174,000$561 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Summit, NJ 07901 78%2,538$179,701$987,900$715 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($216K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98136 78%667$149,269$925,000$544 cheaper homes ($279K less)
Alexandria, VA 22301 77%2,426$194,819$1,027,900$616 higher income ($51K more) · cheaper homes ($176K less)
Montclair, NJ 07042 76%2,544$122,847$821,700$590 cheaper homes ($382K less) · older homes
Harrison, NY 10528 76%2,568$154,416$937,500$598 cheaper homes ($266K less) · newer homes
Port Washington, NY 11050 75%2,571$154,225$1,035,400$718 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20016 74%2,423$178,920$1,216,000$565 higher income ($36K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 73%2,560$165,417$765,500$537 cheaper homes ($438K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22046 73%2,419$168,882$1,014,700$476 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($189K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98116 73%669$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($230K less) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80209 72%940$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($185K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Brookline, MA 02445 71%2,680$139,747$1,227,000$776 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
West Roxbury, MA 02132 70%2,680$138,724$746,100$505 cheaper homes ($457K less) · more homeowners
West Newton, MA 02465 70%2,675$194,265$1,159,200$619 higher income ($51K more) · cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Madison, NJ 07940 70%2,535$172,708$940,900$609 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($263K less) · less walkable

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.