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 95131

San Jose: median income $170,255, home value $1,164,800, $764/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kirkland, WA 98034 85%714$135,219$946,300$565 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($219K less) · larger
Bothell, WA 98011 81%716$131,667$933,000$486 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($232K less)
Bellevue, WA 98005 80%707$160,849$1,519,500$613 pricier homes ($355K more)
Kirkland, WA 98033 80%711$182,500$1,491,700$742 pricier homes ($327K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33156 77%2,556$137,076$1,120,100$619 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22043 75%2,406$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($283K less)
Kailua, HI 96734 75%2,405$132,782$1,367,600$904 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($203K more) · larger
Issaquah, WA 98027 74%699$153,301$996,600$507 cheaper homes ($168K less) · less walkable
Kenmore, WA 98028 73%717$139,764$920,800$474 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($244K less) · more single-family homes
Issaquah, WA 98029 73%703$170,759$1,063,200$525 cheaper homes ($102K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98116 73%704$126,151$973,400$612 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($191K less) · more renters
Florham Park, NJ 07932 72%2,527$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($374K less) · smaller · older residents
Harrison, NY 10528 71%2,559$154,416$937,500$598 cheaper homes ($227K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Mililani, HI 96789 71%2,417$127,066$920,400$602 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($244K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98106 71%702$124,212$706,600$448 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($458K less)
Falls Church, VA 22046 70%2,407$168,882$1,014,700$476 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · older homes
Woodinville, WA 98072 70%717$175,805$1,122,200$544 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Mukilteo, WA 98275 70%728$132,861$884,900$418 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($280K less) · older residents
Morristown, NJ 07960 69%2,522$160,334$735,600$476 cheaper homes ($429K less) · less walkable · older homes
Redmond, WA 98052 69%711$163,460$1,180,600$620 larger · more renters
Vienna, VA 22180 68%2,403$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($223K less)
Houston, TX 77024 67%1,600$136,149$1,127,500$414 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Bothell, WA 98012 67%722$146,144$876,600$437 cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Bedford, MA 01730 66%2,664$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($266K less) · smaller · older residents
Waltham, MA 02451 66%2,667$122,335$753,000$487 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($412K less) · smaller

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.