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 San Jose, CA 95113

San Jose: median income $151,685, home value $956,500, $714/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New York, NY 10018 73%2,549$145,958$1,044,800$1,183 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98101 73%711$128,882$784,200$657 cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98121 67%711$152,019$848,400$575 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80202 64%927$114,151$722,700$467 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37201 62%1,934$114,229$621,200$596 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($335K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75201 62%1,449$103,761$688,100$614 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($268K less) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02141 61%2,677$126,522$868,100$842 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98109 61%712$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Stamford, CT 06901 58%2,569$102,641$478,700$463 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($478K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55415 57%1,571$124,921$625,500$406 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($331K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22209 56%2,414$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60601 56%1,839$121,458$526,200$494 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($430K less) · larger
Long Island City, NY 11109 55%2,551$204,885$525,300— higher income ($53K more) · cheaper homes ($431K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22203 55%2,412$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33132 55%2,559$109,109$524,300$550 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($432K less) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02142 54%2,677$147,723$1,954,500$1,396 pricier homes ($998K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02210 54%2,679$172,124$1,190,900$1,527 pricier homes ($234K more) · larger · older residents
Jersey City, NJ 07310 54%2,547$183,464$844,400$695 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37219 54%1,934$105,476$640,700$719 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($316K less) · 12 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33131 52%2,559$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($301K less) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20003 51%2,419$159,846$957,700$625 larger · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33122 51%2,553$99,583$2M+*— lower income ($52K less) · pricier homes ($1044K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30346 50%2,108$95,000$595,900$323 lower income ($57K less) · cheaper homes ($361K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 50%2,551$124,812$884,800$542 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60642 50%1,837$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($363K less) · larger · more homeowners

* 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.