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 Seattle, WA 98106

Seattle: median income $124,212, home value $706,600, $448/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springfield, VA 22150 93%2,320$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Brea, CA 92821 92%968$123,629$903,200$593 pricier homes ($197K more)
Chatsworth, CA 91311 90%938$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($170K more) · older residents
Woburn, MA 01801 89%2,479$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22042 88%2,317$138,255$715,800$426 older homes
Waltham, MA 02451 87%2,478$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · older homes
Fullerton, CA 92833 87%971$114,176$884,100$637 pricier homes ($178K more) · larger
Placentia, CA 92870 87%972$115,929$921,000$604 pricier homes ($214K more) · larger
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 86%2,705$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 86%932$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · less walkable
Sacramento, CA 95831 86%626$100,751$642,700$346 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · older residents
Norwalk, CT 06850 85%2,417$123,633$581,200$390 cheaper homes ($125K less) · less walkable · older homes
Valencia, CA 91355 85%929$115,640$806,200$472 pricier homes ($100K more) · older residents · less walkable
Vista, CA 92081 85%1,028$105,379$838,600$519 pricier homes ($132K more) · less walkable
Alexandria, VA 22309 84%2,326$107,376$567,200$327 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Oceanside, CA 92056 84%1,025$106,272$773,200$555 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Redlands, CA 92373 84%970$101,271$765,700$386 pricier homes ($59K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Lake Forest, CA 92630 84%990$125,853$910,300$637 pricier homes ($204K more) · larger
Benicia, CA 94510 84%654$121,204$810,000$431 pricier homes ($103K more) · older residents
Norwalk, CT 06851 83%2,418$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($119K less) · older residents · older homes
Edison, NJ 08817 83%2,392$110,808$431,100$411 cheaper homes ($276K less) · larger
Somerville, NJ 08876 83%2,376$122,884$485,100$359 cheaper homes ($222K less) · older homes
Herndon, VA 20170 83%2,305$159,466$647,200$326 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Cypress, CA 90630 83%974$130,154$909,700$602 pricier homes ($203K more) · larger · older residents
Orange, CA 92865 83%976$127,431$872,700$571 pricier homes ($166K more) · older homes

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.