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 95117

San Jose: median income $116,348, home value $1,520,700, $874/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, VA 22305 72%2,420$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($656K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33133 71%2,562$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($498K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98119 69%714$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($473K less)
White Plains, NY 10606 68%2,561$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($838K less) · smaller
Honolulu, HI 96822 68%2,407$95,947$1,003,400$551 cheaper homes ($517K less) · larger · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98007 68%712$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($503K less) · newer homes
New York, NY 10038 66%2,554$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($599K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98144 64%710$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($619K less)
Seattle, WA 98116 63%710$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($547K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 63%719$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($646K less) · larger · more single-family homes
West Harrison, NY 10604 62%2,563$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($785K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Avon, CO 81620 62%850$102,775$861,500$950 cheaper homes ($659K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Boston, MA 02118 61%2,682$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 cheaper homes ($463K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Miami Beach, FL 33140 61%2,564$107,063$866,900$623 cheaper homes ($654K less) · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96813 61%2,408$91,690$819,700$723 cheaper homes ($701K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96818 61%2,411$100,567$667,900$576 cheaper homes ($853K less) · larger · newer homes
Waltham, MA 02452 60%2,674$118,431$808,300$429 cheaper homes ($712K less) · smaller · younger residents
Waltham, MA 02453 60%2,674$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($816K less) · older homes
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 59%2,552$94,743$719,600$511 cheaper homes ($801K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22204 59%2,417$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($833K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33143 59%2,559$83,008$857,200$738 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($664K less) · more homeowners
Bellevue, WA 98005 59%712$160,849$1,519,500$613 higher income ($45K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Port Chester, NY 10573 58%2,566$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($858K less) · larger · more homeowners
Key West, FL 33040 58%2,517$86,586$819,400$824 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($701K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98133 58%721$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($750K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.