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 Oakland, CA 94610

Oakland: median income $134,507, home value $1,379,700, $642/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 88%331$109,461$1,430,800$771 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($51K more)
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 86%330$116,170$1,520,000$728 pricier homes ($140K more) · newer homes
Alameda, CA 94501 86%3$127,906$1,250,300$717 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger
South Pasadena, CA 91030 85%343$127,175$1,640,000$947 pricier homes ($260K more) · more single-family homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 84%12$135,635$1,277,800$653 cheaper homes ($102K less) · newer homes
Berkeley, CA 94703 84%4$109,881$1,359,000$913 smaller
San Francisco, CA 94132 83%14$112,292$1,470,700$843 pricier homes ($91K more)
Cambridge, MA 02140 82%2,679$135,286$1,149,800$931 cheaper homes ($230K less) · smaller · younger residents
Studio City, CA 91604 82%333$141,875$1,700,300$822 pricier homes ($321K more) · newer homes
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 81%341$134,313$997,600$700 cheaper homes ($382K less) · smaller · newer homes
Long Beach, CA 90803 81%362$114,656$1,186,800$724 cheaper homes ($193K less) · older residents · less walkable
West Hollywood, CA 90069 80%336$107,987$1,074,900$814 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($305K less) · smaller
Redondo Beach, CA 90277 80%350$127,795$1,476,000$890 pricier homes ($96K more) · older residents · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94609 80%2$107,834$1,207,700$653 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($172K less) · younger residents
Culver City, CA 90232 79%339$122,396$1,570,600$988 pricier homes ($191K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98116 79%675$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($406K less) · newer homes
Watertown, MA 02472 78%2,677$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($595K less)
Washington, DC 20008 78%2,423$125,212$965,100$596 cheaper homes ($415K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Santa Monica, CA 90405 78%337$121,241$1,929,900$1,153 pricier homes ($550K more)
Seattle, WA 98119 78%679$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($332K less) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Montclair, NJ 07042 77%2,544$122,847$821,700$590 cheaper homes ($558K less) · older homes
Los Angeles, CA 90035 77%338$105,013$1,908,900$800 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($529K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90045 77%342$135,032$1,399,100$874 more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90068 77%336$101,630$1,810,700$835 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($431K more) · smaller
San Francisco, CA 94121 77%14$133,358$1,611,400$1,132 pricier homes ($232K 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.

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