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 Novato, CA 94947

Novato: median income $128,766, home value $1,017,600, $602/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belmar, NJ 07719 91%2,571$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($317K less)
Kaneohe, HI 96744 91%2,386$131,653$1,039,900$690 larger
Edmonds, WA 98026 90%673$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
Edmonds, WA 98020 89%671$130,319$1,031,500$625 Very close on everything we compare
Aiea, HI 96701 88%2,394$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98166 88%646$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($193K less)
Honolulu, HI 96816 87%2,391$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($151K more) · larger
Burlington, MA 01803 86%2,683$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($277K less)
Pearl City, HI 96782 86%2,395$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98155 86%668$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · younger residents
Danvers, MA 01923 85%2,695$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($373K less)
Mililani, HI 96789 84%2,395$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · younger residents
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 83%2,573$123,152$627,200$556 cheaper homes ($390K less)
Dedham, MA 02026 82%2,689$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($356K less) · older homes
Miami, FL 33156 82%2,600$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($103K more) · younger residents
Tacoma, WA 98407 82%635$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($361K less)
Valhalla, NY 10595 81%2,573$123,438$723,100$451 cheaper homes ($295K less) · smaller
Mukilteo, WA 98275 81%679$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($133K less) · newer homes
Paramus, NJ 07652 80%2,560$144,349$813,900$504 cheaper homes ($204K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Carbondale, CO 81623 80%832$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · newer homes
Honolulu, HI 96825 80%2,385$153,210$1,088,700$759 pricier homes ($71K more) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Stoneham, MA 02180 79%2,689$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($346K less) · younger residents
Clark, NJ 07066 79%2,552$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($408K less) · smaller
Sayville, NY 11782 78%2,613$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($380K less) · smaller
Boca Raton, FL 33486 78%2,587$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($354K less) · 6 min shorter commute

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.