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.

Reset

Towns most like Albany, CA 94706

Albany: median income $143,398, home value $1,203,500, $836/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Pasadena, CA 91030 88%349$127,175$1,640,000$947 pricier homes ($437K more)
El Cerrito, CA 94530 86%2$128,529$1,114,100$771 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more single-family homes
Arlington, MA 02474 85%2,678$150,560$933,200$598 cheaper homes ($270K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98112 83%673$171,572$1,549,100$681 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($346K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Newton, MA 02458 81%2,677$153,520$1,136,100$544 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Arlington, MA 02476 81%2,677$151,131$934,800$609 cheaper homes ($269K less) · older residents · older homes
Los Angeles, CA 90045 81%348$135,032$1,399,100$874 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger
Oakland, CA 94611 81%5$180,549$1,537,700$751 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($334K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98199 81%674$180,789$1,198,700$629 higher income ($37K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Newtonville, MA 02460 80%2,676$177,837$1,224,600$588 higher income ($34K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Berkeley, CA 94703 80%2$109,881$1,359,000$913 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($156K more) · more renters
Berkeley, CA 94705 80%3$167,970$1,992,800$899 pricier homes ($789K more) · older residents · older homes
Belmont, MA 02478 79%2,677$183,137$1,159,000$601 higher income ($40K more) · cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Greenwich, CT 06830 79%2,571$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($457K more) · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98115 79%677$156,142$1,094,600$578 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Auburndale, MA 02466 78%2,674$170,089$1,174,000$561 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Summit, NJ 07901 78%2,538$179,701$987,900$715 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($216K less) · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90039 78%345$113,818$1,264,500$1,010 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($61K more)
Sierra Madre, CA 91024 78%350$143,547$1,226,800$764 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98136 78%667$149,269$925,000$544 cheaper homes ($279K less)
Alexandria, VA 22301 77%2,426$194,819$1,027,900$616 higher income ($51K more) · cheaper homes ($176K less)
Los Angeles, CA 90064 77%343$135,383$1,765,300$997 pricier homes ($562K more) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Pasadena, CA 91105 77%347$156,791$1,671,000$841 pricier homes ($468K more) · smaller · older residents
Pasadena, CA 91107 77%349$126,449$1,155,300$793 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · older residents
Berkeley, CA 94702 77%2$99,775$1,202,100$1,046 lower income ($44K less)

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.

From OfferBacked · Free

Get matched with a local agent.

Buying or selling around Columbus, OH? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.

Get matched