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 Richmond, CA 94801

Richmond: median income $81,728, home value $609,000, $378/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98198 88%653$86,239$589,500$361 5 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98030 86%653$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Hempstead, NY 11550 85%2,579$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger · older homes
Riverdale, MD 20737 84%2,434$86,951$390,500$286 cheaper homes ($219K less)
Hyattsville, MD 20784 84%2,435$86,509$369,900$275 cheaper homes ($239K less)
Tacoma, WA 98444 84%636$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($193K less)
Miami, FL 33169 82%2,582$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($206K less)
Seattle, WA 98168 82%660$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98409 82%640$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($215K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Brockton, MA 02301 81%2,690$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Auburn, WA 98002 81%647$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($188K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Lynn, MA 01905 80%2,688$84,333$499,200$377 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Carteret, NJ 07008 80%2,549$97,021$406,000$355 cheaper homes ($203K less)
Hyattsville, MD 20783 80%2,431$86,737$409,000$253 cheaper homes ($200K less)
Portland, OR 97236 80%522$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($173K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Everett, WA 98201 80%694$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Roselle, NJ 07203 79%2,547$92,762$379,900$350 cheaper homes ($229K less) · older homes
Silver Spring, MD 20903 79%2,430$80,768$485,700$258 cheaper homes ($123K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Federal Way, WA 98003 79%648$75,319$476,600$314 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bremerton, WA 98310 79%668$75,878$440,500$286 cheaper homes ($169K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Revere, MA 02151 78%2,687$86,969$597,400$421 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Linden, NJ 07036 78%2,547$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($191K less) · older residents · older homes
Rahway, NJ 07065 78%2,546$91,461$386,400$395 cheaper homes ($223K less) · older residents
Staten Island, NY 10302 78%2,553$78,263$611,900$478 smaller · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Hollywood, FL 33024 78%2,577$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger · 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.