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 Washington, DC 20002

Washington: median income $120,337, home value $826,400, $494/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60622 92%599$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 88%388$131,551$822,300$642 smaller · older homes
Watertown, MA 02472 85%388$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older residents
Chicago, IL 60647 83%600$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($240K less) · older homes
Somerville, MA 02145 82%392$123,755$828,600$598 smaller · older homes
Somerville, MA 02143 80%391$130,753$926,800$769 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller · older homes
Chicago, IL 60657 80%598$110,939$537,800$428 cheaper homes ($289K less)
Somerville, MA 02144 79%391$150,313$988,800$713 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($162K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19130 79%122$112,037$491,800$347 cheaper homes ($335K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22206 79%7$140,877$586,000$431 cheaper homes ($240K less) · smaller · newer homes
Boston, MA 02127 78%392$164,387$863,700$828 higher income ($44K more) · pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Brighton, MA 02135 78%387$90,829$681,200$631 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller
Silver Spring, MD 20910 77%7$112,134$730,900$364 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22305 77%6$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60614 77%598$136,448$720,400$506 cheaper homes ($106K less) · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19103 76%121$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22204 76%7$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($138K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Emeryville, CA 94608 76%2,429$120,239$849,600$508 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Waltham, MA 02453 75%385$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19146 75%120$103,059$461,000$340 cheaper homes ($365K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19147 75%121$105,755$530,900$366 cheaper homes ($296K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98119 74%2,325$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($221K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Cambridge, MA 02140 73%390$135,286$1,149,800$931 pricier homes ($323K more) · smaller
Brookline, MA 02446 73%389$131,963$1,181,500$843 pricier homes ($355K more) · smaller · older homes
Weehawken, NJ 07086 73%204$127,763$889,000$672 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute

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.