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 Ben Lomond, CA 95005

Ben Lomond: median income $104,375, home value $967,300, $570/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vashon, WA 98070 84%715$120,571$790,700$530 cheaper homes ($177K less) · older residents
Hampton Bays, NY 11946 81%2,640$133,918$737,400$659 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($230K less) · larger
Oceanport, NJ 07757 80%2,570$126,094$757,700$524 cheaper homes ($210K less) · older residents
Marshfield, MA 02050 79%2,717$126,241$679,700$424 cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger
Kings Park, NY 11754 79%2,602$123,393$624,700$414 cheaper homes ($343K less) · larger
Lake Grove, NY 11755 78%2,609$119,364$601,600$387 cheaper homes ($366K less) · larger · younger residents
East Moriches, NY 11940 78%2,628$138,639$661,600$432 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($306K less) · newer homes
Southold, NY 11971 78%2,642$129,507$843,300$587 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($124K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Centerville, MA 02632 77%2,740$121,317$616,700$486 cheaper homes ($351K less) · larger · older residents
Salisbury, CT 06068 77%2,580$123,552$842,200$461 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Northvale, NJ 07647 76%2,565$128,542$602,800$451 cheaper homes ($365K less) · 8 min shorter commute
East Quogue, NY 11942 76%2,637$93,710$844,100$675 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older residents · newer homes
Kingston, MA 02364 75%2,716$119,876$610,600$386 cheaper homes ($357K less) · larger · newer homes
Greenlawn, NY 11740 75%2,596$152,386$693,700$461 higher income ($48K more) · cheaper homes ($274K less)
Waialua, HI 96791 75%2,401$97,470$977,400$861 more apartments and townhomes
The Plains, VA 20198 74%2,393$106,518$933,000$521 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Kula, HI 96790 74%2,340$100,693$1,037,700$897 pricier homes ($70K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Sayville, NY 11782 73%2,612$147,672$637,300$507 higher income ($43K more) · cheaper homes ($330K less) · larger
Mattituck, NY 11952 73%2,637$120,139$764,300$531 cheaper homes ($203K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Nederland, CO 80466 73%918$100,962$731,700$442 cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Holualoa, HI 96725 73%2,366$93,346$880,000$586 cheaper homes ($87K less) · 10 min shorter commute · newer homes
Makawao, HI 96768 73%2,336$100,391$946,700$814 larger · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Belmar, NJ 07719 72%2,569$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($266K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Oakhurst, NJ 07755 72%2,570$134,338$768,400$582 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($199K less) · younger residents
Valhalla, NY 10595 72%2,572$123,438$723,100$451 cheaper homes ($244K less) · more apartments and townhomes · more 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.