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 20011

Washington: median income $110,309, home value $723,900, $379/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60618 90%598$106,384$562,700$389 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Roslindale, MA 02131 83%385$111,006$664,700$517 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Malden, MA 02148 83%394$100,606$633,500$451 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more renters
Medford, MA 02155 83%391$129,700$755,500$496 pricier homes ($32K more) · more single-family homes
Watertown, MA 02472 83%387$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60647 83%598$107,060$586,200$403 cheaper homes ($138K less) · younger residents · more renters
Salem, MA 01970 81%404$85,041$542,900$418 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($181K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19147 81%120$105,755$530,900$366 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller
Port Chester, NY 10573 80%227$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 79%224$104,984$681,000$564 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19146 79%120$103,059$461,000$340 cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller · younger residents
Winthrop, MA 02152 78%395$116,167$649,600$407 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · older residents
Quincy, MA 02171 76%390$106,885$662,900$512 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Bloomfield, NJ 07003 75%197$103,663$470,600$421 cheaper homes ($253K less) · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22204 75%8$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Dorchester, MA 02122 74%388$86,150$669,900$471 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60625 74%599$85,703$401,900$333 cheaper homes ($322K less) · more renters
Somerville, MA 02145 73%391$123,755$828,600$598 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller · more renters
Waltham, MA 02453 73%384$115,366$705,100$473 smaller · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
New Rochelle, NY 10801 73%219$85,573$575,300$378 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller · more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19125 73%123$109,554$392,400$287 cheaper homes ($332K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60622 73%596$136,277$638,100$414 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($86K less) · younger residents
Quincy, MA 02169 72%389$96,290$581,600$460 cheaper homes ($142K less) · more renters · more single-family homes
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 72%222$126,417$729,600$560 smaller · more single-family homes
Bayside, NY 11361 72%213$105,932$918,700$624 pricier homes ($195K more) · smaller · 6 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.