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 Watertown, MA 02472

Watertown: median income $126,336, home value $784,600, $507/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60622 87%845$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · younger residents
Washington, DC 20010 86%388$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($102K more) · younger residents
Washington, DC 20002 85%388$120,337$826,400$494 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · younger residents
Washington, DC 20017 84%386$106,300$702,600$370 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22302 84%395$123,539$631,100$441 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller · newer homes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 83%163$104,984$681,000$564 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Washington, DC 20011 83%387$110,309$723,900$379 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22305 83%393$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · more renters
Montclair, NJ 07042 82%190$122,847$821,700$590 pricier homes ($37K more) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22204 80%394$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($97K less) · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22206 80%394$140,877$586,000$431 cheaper homes ($199K less) · smaller · newer homes
Miami Beach, FL 33140 80%1,251$107,063$866,900$623 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · newer homes
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 79%164$126,417$729,600$560 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19147 79%267$105,755$530,900$366 cheaper homes ($254K less)
Denver, CO 80211 79%1,760$121,439$807,100$442 younger residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60647 78%846$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger · younger residents
Oakland, CA 94610 78%2,677$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($595K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19118 77%263$109,649$718,300$399 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · older residents
Chicago, IL 60618 76%846$106,384$562,700$389 cheaper homes ($222K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80206 76%1,758$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($131K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98119 76%2,481$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($263K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Providence, RI 02906 75%39$103,050$638,600$395 cheaper homes ($146K less) · more single-family homes
Port Chester, NY 10573 75%159$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Washington, DC 20008 75%389$125,212$965,100$596 pricier homes ($181K more)
Emeryville, CA 94608 75%2,678$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($65K more) · more renters · newer 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.