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 Vashon, WA 98070

Vashon: median income $120,571, home value $790,700, $530/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Centerville, MA 02632 95%2,548$121,317$616,700$486 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Oceanport, NJ 07757 90%2,422$126,094$757,700$524 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Southold, NY 11971 89%2,472$129,507$843,300$587 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Sandwich, MA 02563 88%2,541$121,455$617,800$441 cheaper homes ($173K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Mattapoisett, MA 02739 88%2,527$130,241$681,600$430 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Hampton Bays, NY 11946 88%2,473$133,918$737,400$659 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint James, NY 11780 87%2,443$144,577$723,200$466 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · younger residents
Kingston, MA 02364 86%2,520$119,876$610,600$386 cheaper homes ($180K less) · younger residents
Wellfleet, MA 02667 86%2,555$121,110$855,500$627 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller
Rye, NH 03870 86%2,488$140,938$990,700$601 pricier homes ($200K more) · smaller
Bayville, NY 11709 86%2,424$149,191$710,000$454 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($81K less)
Kings Park, NY 11754 86%2,439$123,393$624,700$414 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · younger residents
Marshfield, MA 02050 85%2,518$126,241$679,700$424 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · younger residents
East Quogue, NY 11942 85%2,471$93,710$844,100$675 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Oakdale, NY 11769 84%2,449$123,558$607,000$389 cheaper homes ($184K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Ben Lomond, CA 95005 84%715$104,375$967,300$570 pricier homes ($177K more) · younger residents
Sagamore Beach, MA 02562 83%2,536$120,000$591,000$498 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Boulder Creek, CA 95006 83%710$102,167$843,200$521 pricier homes ($53K more) · older homes
Loomis, CA 95650 83%599$117,912$751,700$484 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Sterling, MA 01564 82%2,459$129,063$498,800$327 cheaper homes ($292K less)
Rowley, MA 01969 82%2,490$132,734$667,300$375 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Marion, MA 02738 82%2,528$143,092$653,500$368 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller · older homes
Mattituck, NY 11952 82%2,469$120,139$764,300$531 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 82%2,493$120,662$677,600$403 cheaper homes ($113K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Lyons, CO 80540 82%985$139,521$795,500$371 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.