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 20005

Washington: median income $116,724, home value $640,600, $605/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, VA 22209 90%3$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($179K more) · newer homes
Cambridge, MA 02141 86%393$126,522$868,100$842 pricier homes ($228K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19103 86%123$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · older homes
Seattle, WA 98102 85%2,321$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($323K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22206 82%6$140,877$586,000$431 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60610 81%595$105,226$505,900$394 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19130 79%123$112,037$491,800$347 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19106 78%124$121,047$517,900$407 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60611 78%594$125,675$650,800$394 larger · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22202 77%4$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($258K more) · larger · newer homes
Weehawken, NJ 07086 76%205$127,763$889,000$672 pricier homes ($248K more) · 10 min longer commute
New York, NY 10038 76%203$105,419$921,900$1,006 pricier homes ($281K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22203 76%5$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($186K more) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60642 76%595$143,175$593,600$385 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98119 75%2,323$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($407K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Boston, MA 02114 74%393$132,210$924,400$1,148 pricier homes ($284K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Emeryville, CA 94608 74%2,427$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($209K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22201 73%4$145,000$781,600$625 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($141K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60614 73%596$136,448$720,400$506 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90025 73%2,306$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($439K more) · larger
Brighton, MA 02135 72%389$90,829$681,200$631 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19102 72%123$102,093$479,000$322 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22305 72%5$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($224K more) · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60657 72%596$110,939$537,800$428 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Cambridge, MA 02140 71%392$135,286$1,149,800$931 pricier homes ($509K more) · larger · older 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.