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 20010

Washington: median income $114,126, home value $886,600, $471/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 90%388$131,551$822,300$642 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Somerville, MA 02145 90%392$123,755$828,600$598 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Watertown, MA 02472 86%388$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($102K less) · older residents
Chicago, IL 60647 83%598$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($300K less) · larger
Somerville, MA 02143 82%392$130,753$926,800$769 pricier homes ($40K more)
Chicago, IL 60622 82%596$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($249K less) · larger · newer homes
Somerville, MA 02144 81%391$150,313$988,800$713 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($102K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19147 80%122$105,755$530,900$366 cheaper homes ($356K less) · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 78%7$113,537$864,500$521 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19146 77%121$103,059$461,000$340 cheaper homes ($426K less)
Waltham, MA 02453 75%385$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($182K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Boston, MA 02127 74%392$164,387$863,700$828 higher income ($50K more)
Brookline, MA 02446 72%389$131,963$1,181,500$843 pricier homes ($295K more)
Oakland, CA 94609 72%2,425$107,834$1,207,700$653 pricier homes ($321K more) · more single-family homes
Charlestown, MA 02129 71%393$157,247$912,000$948 higher income ($43K more) · pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Brighton, MA 02135 71%388$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($205K less) · more renters · newer homes
Medford, MA 02155 71%393$129,700$755,500$496 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19130 71%122$112,037$491,800$347 cheaper homes ($395K less) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60618 71%598$106,384$562,700$389 cheaper homes ($324K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Dorchester, MA 02125 70%389$82,953$657,100$553 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($230K less)
Arlington, VA 22206 70%7$140,877$586,000$431 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($301K less) · smaller
Cambridge, MA 02139 69%391$134,586$1,087,500$965 pricier homes ($201K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19103 69%122$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($304K less) · newer homes
Boston, MA 02118 68%391$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 pricier homes ($172K more)
Arlington, VA 22204 68%6$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($199K less) · larger · more single-family 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.