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 Tacoma, WA 98407

Tacoma: median income $110,288, home value $656,600, $414/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belmar, NJ 07719 91%2,427$119,828$700,900$488 pricier homes ($44K more)
Benicia, CA 94510 90%637$121,204$810,000$431 pricier homes ($153K more)
Danvers, MA 01923 89%2,497$125,395$644,200$428 Very close on everything we compare
Stoneham, MA 02180 89%2,492$113,964$671,900$437 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, VA 22150 89%2,328$123,114$635,900$335 younger residents
San Pedro, CA 90732 89%961$120,807$857,000$483 pricier homes ($200K more)
Chatsworth, CA 91311 89%923$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($220K more) · larger
Waltham, MA 02451 88%2,488$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($96K more) · younger residents
Bristol, RI 02809 88%2,509$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704 88%2,526$107,889$753,600$451 pricier homes ($97K more) · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95831 88%609$100,751$642,700$346 larger
Norwalk, CT 06851 87%2,427$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($69K less) · less walkable
La Palma, CA 90623 87%957$116,594$979,600$562 pricier homes ($323K more)
La Verne, CA 91750 87%942$104,195$814,700$528 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Roseville, CA 95661 87%594$105,925$687,800$366 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · newer homes
Red Bank, NJ 07701 86%2,421$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 6 min longer commute
Martinez, CA 94553 86%643$124,130$825,900$473 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger
Fair Oaks, CA 95628 86%599$115,803$651,400$340 larger
Beaverton, OR 97008 86%127$96,116$578,100$338 cheaper homes ($79K less) · younger residents
Dedham, MA 02026 85%2,497$128,955$661,800$448 older homes
Clifton, NJ 07013 85%2,400$116,273$478,100$434 cheaper homes ($179K less) · older homes
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 85%2,405$123,734$552,900$430 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · older homes
New Milford, NJ 07646 85%2,405$114,889$580,400$467 cheaper homes ($76K less) · younger residents · older homes
Eatontown, NJ 07724 85%2,423$102,756$522,100$381 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Winter Park, FL 32789 85%2,546$106,671$791,400$464 pricier homes ($135K more) · 6 min shorter commute

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.