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 Santa Clara, CA 95054

Santa Clara: median income $207,895, home value $1,493,100, $922/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bellevue, WA 98004 88%706$182,545$2M+*$915 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($507K more) · larger
Redmond, WA 98052 71%710$163,460$1,180,600$620 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($313K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20003 65%2,421$159,846$957,700$625 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($535K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98107 65%710$142,662$953,400$553 lower income ($65K less) · cheaper homes ($540K less)
Bellevue, WA 98005 63%706$160,849$1,519,500$613 lower income ($47K less) · pricier homes ($26K more) · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75205 61%1,453$181,631$1,706,700$693 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($214K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98109 60%708$133,663$1,034,100$649 lower income ($74K less) · cheaper homes ($459K less) · more apartments and townhomes
New York, NY 10007 58%2,551$250,000+*$2M+*$1,655 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($507K more) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22203 58%2,415$140,135$826,800$511 lower income ($68K less) · cheaper homes ($666K less)
Bellevue, WA 98007 58%707$131,109$1,018,100$543 lower income ($77K less) · cheaper homes ($475K less) · older homes
Arlington, VA 22201 56%2,416$145,000$781,600$625 lower income ($63K less) · cheaper homes ($712K less)
Seattle, WA 98121 56%707$152,019$848,400$575 lower income ($56K less) · cheaper homes ($645K less) · more apartments and townhomes
New York, NY 10018 55%2,552$145,958$1,044,800$1,183 lower income ($62K less) · cheaper homes ($448K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10280 55%2,551$206,299$976,300$1,104 cheaper homes ($517K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 55%2,555$124,812$884,800$542 lower income ($83K less) · cheaper homes ($608K less) · older residents
New York, NY 10282 54%2,551$250,000+*$2M+*$1,209 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($507K more) · smaller
Kirkland, WA 98033 54%711$182,500$1,491,700$742 lower income ($25K less) · larger · older residents
Boston, MA 02210 52%2,681$172,124$1,190,900$1,527 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($302K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10069 52%2,551$233,636$2M+*$1,385 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($507K more) · smaller
Washington, DC 20001 52%2,419$138,059$852,600$552 lower income ($70K less) · cheaper homes ($641K less) · larger
Mc Lean, VA 22102 52%2,408$153,949$955,500$417 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($538K less) · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22314 52%2,419$148,451$899,000$624 lower income ($59K less) · cheaper homes ($594K less) · older residents
Jersey City, NJ 07302 51%2,549$175,077$865,100$888 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($628K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33131 51%2,563$144,138$655,100$622 lower income ($64K less) · cheaper homes ($838K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Austin, TX 78701 51%1,470$162,168$722,400$705 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($771K less) · smaller

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.