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.

Reset

Towns most like El Sobrante, CA 94803

El Sobrante: median income $118,447, home value $783,900, $457/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Renton, WA 98058 89%655$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Braintree, MA 02184 88%2,686$122,214$656,800$428 cheaper homes ($127K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98166 87%655$114,969$824,400$420 pricier homes ($41K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98178 86%658$99,505$660,400$367 cheaper homes ($124K less)
West Babylon, NY 11704 85%2,588$129,195$527,500$459 cheaper homes ($256K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 85%682$133,638$821,700$450 pricier homes ($38K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Stoughton, MA 02072 84%2,682$104,794$523,800$335 cheaper homes ($260K less)
Randolph, MA 02368 84%2,684$109,665$496,800$346 cheaper homes ($287K less)
Clark, NJ 07066 84%2,540$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98146 84%658$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($104K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Farmingdale, NY 11735 83%2,584$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($192K less) · older homes
Lake Grove, NY 11755 83%2,598$119,364$601,600$387 cheaper homes ($182K less) · smaller · less walkable
Tacoma, WA 98422 83%644$118,604$663,800$358 cheaper homes ($120K less) · newer homes
Saugus, MA 01906 82%2,682$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($181K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Belmar, NJ 07719 82%2,559$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 82%2,561$123,152$627,200$556 cheaper homes ($157K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 82%2,543$109,312$486,600$372 cheaper homes ($297K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Danvers, MA 01923 81%2,684$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($140K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Abington, MA 02351 81%2,690$125,400$539,600$350 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller · less walkable
Butler, NJ 07405 81%2,529$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($214K less) · smaller
Pearl River, NY 10965 81%2,549$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($187K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Kings Park, NY 11754 81%2,591$123,393$624,700$414 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller · less walkable
Kaneohe, HI 96744 81%2,398$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($256K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98031 81%651$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($172K less) · newer homes
Dedham, MA 02026 80%2,677$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($122K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older 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.