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 Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

Mountlake Terrace: median income $107,687, home value $667,100, $438/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woburn, MA 01801 95%2,474$111,185$673,500$456 larger
West Covina, CA 91792 92%978$94,817$696,200$489 pricier homes ($29K more)
Beaverton, OR 97008 91%163$96,116$578,100$338 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Springfield, VA 22150 90%2,318$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Ventura, CA 93003 90%947$103,761$816,300$535 pricier homes ($149K more) · larger
Torrance, CA 90502 89%987$94,291$697,400$557 pricier homes ($30K more)
Chatsworth, CA 91311 89%955$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($209K more) · larger
Northridge, CA 91324 89%957$99,610$906,300$523 pricier homes ($239K more)
Sacramento, CA 95831 89%644$100,751$642,700$346 larger
Waltham, MA 02451 88%2,472$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($86K more)
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 88%2,391$111,711$524,400$439 cheaper homes ($143K less) · older homes
Englewood, NJ 07631 88%2,395$102,571$544,100$428 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22309 88%2,323$107,376$567,200$327 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Miami, FL 33176 88%2,732$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Covina, CA 91724 88%974$103,163$782,700$494 pricier homes ($116K more)
Cotati, CA 94931 88%654$101,994$820,000$454 pricier homes ($153K more) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06851 87%2,413$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($80K less) · less walkable
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 87%2,388$101,740$483,700$369 cheaper homes ($183K less) · older homes
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 87%2,413$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Parlin, NJ 08859 87%2,394$99,882$445,800$372 cheaper homes ($221K less)
Arvada, CO 80002 87%1,017$93,362$558,500$322 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Brea, CA 92821 87%985$123,629$903,200$593 pricier homes ($236K more) · larger
Beverly, MA 01915 86%2,484$104,918$649,700$475 larger · older homes
Norwood, MA 02062 86%2,481$107,030$651,700$432 older homes
Weymouth, MA 02188 86%2,491$107,335$594,000$396 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable

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.