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 Bellevue, WA 98008

Bellevue: median income $184,583, home value $1,206,200, $671/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tampa, FL 33629 86%2,516$164,355$851,400$493 cheaper homes ($355K less)
Livermore, CA 94550 86%686$180,295$1,202,500$666 larger · 6 min longer commute
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 86%670$186,225$1,339,900$665 pricier homes ($134K more) · 6 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95119 85%717$174,375$1,247,800$841 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Needham Heights, MA 02494 84%2,470$179,720$1,107,700$530 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 83%948$163,317$1,116,200$584 cheaper homes ($90K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Bedford, MA 01730 82%2,462$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($308K less) · smaller · less walkable
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 82%155$149,236$1,047,500$444 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($159K less) · older residents
Miami, FL 33156 81%2,722$137,076$1,120,100$619 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($86K less) · 5 min longer commute
Aptos, CA 95003 81%735$148,412$1,198,700$764 lower income ($36K less) · older residents
Arlington, VA 22205 80%2,308$201,094$1,092,800$542 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller · older homes
Arlington, VA 22207 80%2,308$245,745$1,257,900$511 higher income ($61K more) · pricier homes ($52K more)
Newbury Park, CA 91320 80%943$148,991$948,100$507 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($258K less) · larger
San Jose, CA 95124 80%716$185,926$1,666,300$1,134 pricier homes ($460K more) · larger
La Crescenta, CA 91214 79%946$140,121$1,135,200$782 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($71K less) · 7 min longer commute
Fullerton, CA 92835 79%972$143,817$1,052,500$603 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($154K less) · 7 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95132 79%705$178,611$1,349,100$942 pricier homes ($143K more) · 6 min longer commute
Madison, NJ 07940 78%2,371$172,708$940,900$609 cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller · younger residents
Vienna, VA 22180 78%2,302$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($265K less)
Woodland Hills, CA 91364 78%947$132,854$1,208,200$605 lower income ($52K less) · 7 min longer commute
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 78%729$151,250$1,136,400$649 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Glendale, CA 91208 77%949$136,892$1,421,200$722 lower income ($48K less) · pricier homes ($215K more) · smaller
Encino, CA 91436 77%949$177,981$2M+*$766 pricier homes ($794K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Encinitas, CA 92024 77%1,037$158,507$1,612,000$993 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($406K more) · larger
Poway, CA 92064 77%1,045$148,673$1,033,100$606 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger

* 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.