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 Arlington, MA 02476

Arlington: median income $151,131, home value $934,800, $609/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 83%169$165,417$765,500$537 cheaper homes ($169K less) · smaller · younger residents
Albany, CA 94706 81%2,677$143,398$1,203,500$836 pricier homes ($269K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Montclair, NJ 07042 78%192$122,847$821,700$590 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Narberth, PA 19072 78%269$172,550$819,700$372 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller
White Plains, NY 10605 77%165$148,982$787,500$459 cheaper homes ($147K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Summit, NJ 07901 76%202$179,701$987,900$715 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($53K more) · younger residents
Washington, DC 20016 76%392$178,920$1,216,000$565 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($281K more) · larger
Rutherford, NJ 07070 75%187$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($331K less) · younger residents
Tuckahoe, NY 10707 75%170$130,957$773,200$493 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22307 75%398$141,667$778,900$425 cheaper homes ($156K less) · smaller · newer homes
Leonia, NJ 07605 74%181$129,219$672,900$469 cheaper homes ($262K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Great Neck, NY 11021 74%173$120,230$662,000$534 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($273K less) · 5 min longer commute
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 74%176$157,163$809,200$536 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20012 74%388$121,418$863,900$421 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($71K less) · younger residents
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 73%166$126,417$729,600$560 cheaper homes ($205K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Port Washington, NY 11050 73%170$154,225$1,035,400$718 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Harrison, NY 10528 72%165$154,416$937,500$598 younger residents · newer homes
Mineola, NY 11501 72%172$137,665$655,500$522 cheaper homes ($279K less) · newer homes
El Cerrito, CA 94530 72%2,676$128,529$1,114,100$771 pricier homes ($179K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Oakland, CA 94602 72%2,675$122,263$1,129,500$720 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($195K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98112 72%2,477$171,572$1,549,100$681 pricier homes ($614K more) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98136 72%2,482$149,269$925,000$544 younger residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Eastchester, NY 10709 71%169$170,417$847,900$497 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Berkeley, CA 94705 71%2,676$167,970$1,992,800$899 pricier homes ($1058K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19118 70%265$109,649$718,300$399 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($217K less) · 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.