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 Cambridge, MA 02141

Cambridge: median income $126,522, home value $868,100, $842/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, VA 22209 90%395$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Seattle, WA 98102 88%2,483$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20005 86%393$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($228K less)
Washington, DC 20001 85%392$138,059$852,600$552 larger
New York, NY 10038 84%189$105,419$921,900$1,006 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · older homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 83%2,600$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($212K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22203 82%398$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · newer homes
Irvine, CA 92612 82%2,581$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22201 80%396$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 80%2,603$146,167$1,272,200$834 pricier homes ($404K more) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20037 79%394$111,153$685,300$639 cheaper homes ($183K less) · 6 min shorter commute
New York, NY 10016 78%187$140,381$905,000$1,232 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · older homes
Arlington, VA 22202 78%396$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98101 78%2,484$128,882$784,200$657 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Seattle, WA 98119 77%2,485$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($180K more) · larger · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98122 77%2,483$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · more single-family homes
New York, NY 10044 75%185$103,347$1,034,100$967 pricier homes ($166K more) · older residents · 10 min longer commute
Emeryville, CA 94608 75%2,683$120,239$849,600$508 larger · more single-family homes
Weehawken, NJ 07086 74%188$127,763$889,000$672 older residents · 10 min longer commute · older homes
Irvine, CA 92614 74%2,580$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($209K more) · larger · more homeowners
Bellevue, WA 98007 74%2,475$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($150K more) · larger · more single-family homes
New York, NY 10019 73%186$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 pricier homes ($193K more) · larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92109 73%2,579$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 pricier homes ($359K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98109 73%2,485$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($166K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98107 72%2,485$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · more homeowners

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.