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 20004

Washington: median income $184,792, home value $689,600, $528/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Austin, TX 78701 71%1,316$162,168$722,400$705 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60603 68%594$133,545$633,900$350 lower income ($51K less) · cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents
New York, NY 10280 62%203$206,299$976,300$1,104 pricier homes ($287K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60606 60%595$128,609$416,400$334 lower income ($56K less) · cheaper homes ($273K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30363 54%541$123,667$429,900$257 lower income ($61K less) · cheaper homes ($260K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32814 54%755$140,274$754,300$363 lower income ($45K less) · pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Miami, FL 33131 54%926$144,138$655,100$622 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37201 54%566$114,229$621,200$596 lower income ($71K less) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents
Chicago, IL 60654 53%595$147,357$500,400$404 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($189K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60601 49%594$121,458$526,200$494 lower income ($63K less) · cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60642 49%596$143,175$593,600$385 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98121 49%2,323$152,019$848,400$575 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($159K more) · larger
Long Island City, NY 11109 48%207$204,885$525,300— cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger · younger residents
Arlington, VA 22209 48%3$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($64K less) · pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60611 47%594$125,675$650,800$394 lower income ($59K less) · cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60661 47%595$125,741$392,900$407 lower income ($59K less) · cheaper homes ($297K less) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22314 46%6$148,451$899,000$624 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($209K more) · larger
Nashville, TN 37219 45%566$105,476$640,700$719 lower income ($79K less) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents
Playa Vista, CA 90094 45%2,307$145,744$1,356,000$885 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($666K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19106 44%124$121,047$517,900$407 lower income ($64K less) · cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22203 44%5$140,135$826,800$511 lower income ($45K less) · pricier homes ($137K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30326 44%536$121,984$448,000$323 lower income ($63K less) · cheaper homes ($242K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55415 44%932$124,921$625,500$406 lower income ($60K less) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Boston, MA 02210 43%394$172,124$1,190,900$1,527 pricier homes ($501K more) · larger · younger residents
Reston, VA 20190 43%18$134,746$581,400$402 lower income ($50K less) · cheaper homes ($108K less) · 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.