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 Washington, DC 20001

Washington: median income $138,059, home value $852,600, $552/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, VA 22203 95%6$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22201 93%4$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Arlington, VA 22202 88%4$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · more renters
Arlington, VA 22209 88%3$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60642 88%596$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($259K less) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22314 86%8$148,451$899,000$624 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98102 86%2,322$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98107 86%2,324$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($101K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Cambridge, MA 02141 85%392$126,522$868,100$842 smaller
Chicago, IL 60611 85%594$125,675$650,800$394 cheaper homes ($202K less)
Chicago, IL 60614 83%596$136,448$720,400$506 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger · older homes
Seattle, WA 98122 83%2,321$106,886$957,100$551 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($105K more) · more single-family homes
Bellevue, WA 98007 80%2,314$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($166K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 79%2,306$103,894$1,079,700$699 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($227K more)
Emeryville, CA 94608 79%2,427$120,239$849,600$508 more single-family homes · older homes
Seattle, WA 98109 79%2,323$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($182K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Seattle, WA 98119 79%2,324$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($195K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60610 78%595$105,226$505,900$394 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($347K less)
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 78%2,308$146,167$1,272,200$834 pricier homes ($420K more) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33131 77%927$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Irvine, CA 92612 77%2,282$106,226$993,800$750 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($141K more)
Chicago, IL 60601 76%594$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($326K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98121 76%2,323$152,019$848,400$575 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Rockville, MD 20852 75%11$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($187K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60607 75%596$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($353K less) · 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.