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 Alameda, CA 94501

Alameda: median income $127,906, home value $1,250,300, $717/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Torrance, CA 90503 93%349$125,912$1,099,700$745 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 90%329$109,461$1,430,800$771 pricier homes ($181K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90045 89%341$135,032$1,399,100$874 pricier homes ($149K more) · smaller
Los Angeles, CA 90039 88%338$113,818$1,264,500$1,010 smaller
San Francisco, CA 94132 88%12$112,292$1,470,700$843 pricier homes ($220K more) · smaller
Woodland Hills, CA 91367 87%321$108,653$1,067,000$594 cheaper homes ($183K less) · newer homes
Studio City, CA 91604 87%331$141,875$1,700,300$822 pricier homes ($450K more) · smaller · newer homes
San Jose, CA 95128 87%36$131,152$1,262,600$897 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90066 86%337$114,141$1,695,400$1,042 pricier homes ($445K more)
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 86%328$116,170$1,520,000$728 pricier homes ($270K more) · smaller
Oakland, CA 94610 86%3$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($129K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98116 86%677$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($277K less) · smaller · newer homes
Culver City, CA 90230 84%339$107,109$1,019,900$710 cheaper homes ($230K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Redondo Beach, CA 90277 84%348$127,795$1,476,000$890 pricier homes ($226K more) · smaller · older residents
Torrance, CA 90505 84%351$115,593$1,204,300$820 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Huntington Beach, CA 92648 83%370$130,164$1,239,500$772 newer homes
Fremont, CA 94538 83%23$147,301$1,136,600$894 cheaper homes ($114K less) · newer homes
Culver City, CA 90232 82%338$122,396$1,570,600$988 pricier homes ($320K more) · smaller
Long Beach, CA 90803 82%361$114,656$1,186,800$724 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · older residents
South Pasadena, CA 91030 82%342$127,175$1,640,000$947 pricier homes ($390K more) · smaller
Arcadia, CA 91007 81%345$100,705$1,277,900$668 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Campbell, CA 95008 81%38$141,131$1,633,600$1,000 pricier homes ($383K more) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Burbank, CA 91504 80%331$103,835$1,099,600$749 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33133 79%2,582$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($228K less) · smaller · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90068 79%335$101,630$1,810,700$835 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($560K more) · 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.

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