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 Long Island City, NY 11109

Long Island City: median income $204,885, home value $525,300, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jersey City, NJ 07310 77%5$183,464$844,400$695 pricier homes ($319K more) · larger · younger residents
Jersey City, NJ 07302 65%5$175,077$865,100$888 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($340K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02210 63%187$172,124$1,190,900$1,527 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($666K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60601 62%713$121,458$526,200$494 lower income ($83K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60654 62%714$147,357$500,400$404 lower income ($58K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60642 61%714$143,175$593,600$385 lower income ($62K less) · pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60661 61%714$125,741$392,900$407 lower income ($79K less) · cheaper homes ($132K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20003 56%206$159,846$957,700$625 lower income ($45K less) · pricier homes ($432K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98121 56%2,404$152,019$848,400$575 lower income ($53K less) · pricier homes ($323K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22203 55%212$140,135$826,800$511 lower income ($65K less) · pricier homes ($302K more) · larger
Playa Vista, CA 90094 55%2,460$145,744$1,356,000$885 lower income ($59K less) · pricier homes ($831K more)
San Francisco, CA 94107 55%2,567$182,897$1,222,500$1,051 pricier homes ($697K more) · larger · more homeowners
San Francisco, CA 94158 55%2,566$196,506$1,429,600$1,237 pricier homes ($904K more) · more homeowners
San Jose, CA 95113 55%2,551$151,685$956,500$714 lower income ($53K less) · pricier homes ($431K more) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22201 54%210$145,000$781,600$625 lower income ($60K less) · pricier homes ($256K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30326 53%743$121,984$448,000$323 lower income ($83K less) · cheaper homes ($77K less) · 8 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94105 52%2,566$225,000$1,398,000$1,200 pricier homes ($873K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32814 51%939$140,274$754,300$363 lower income ($65K less) · pricier homes ($229K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60606 51%714$128,609$416,400$334 lower income ($76K less) · cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78701 51%1,514$162,168$722,400$705 lower income ($43K less) · pricier homes ($197K more) · older residents
Arlington, VA 22202 50%210$133,762$899,000$453 lower income ($71K less) · pricier homes ($374K more) · larger
Miami, FL 33131 50%1,095$144,138$655,100$622 lower income ($61K less) · pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98101 50%2,403$128,882$784,200$657 lower income ($76K less) · pricier homes ($259K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20004 48%207$184,792$689,600$528 pricier homes ($164K more) · smaller · older residents
Arlington, VA 22209 47%209$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($84K less) · pricier homes ($295K more) · larger

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.