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 20016

Washington: median income $178,920, home value $1,216,000, $565/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belmont, MA 02478 90%391$183,137$1,159,000$601 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 90%3$194,971$1,294,200$480 pricier homes ($78K more)
Alexandria, VA 22301 88%8$194,819$1,027,900$616 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98112 84%2,317$171,572$1,549,100$681 pricier homes ($333K more)
Newtonville, MA 02460 83%388$177,837$1,224,600$588 smaller · older homes
Auburndale, MA 02466 83%386$170,089$1,174,000$561 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · younger residents
Arlington, MA 02474 83%393$150,560$933,200$598 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($283K less) · 6 min longer commute
Falls Church, VA 22046 83%6$168,882$1,014,700$476 cheaper homes ($201K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98199 82%2,321$180,789$1,198,700$629 more single-family homes
Newton, MA 02458 81%389$153,520$1,136,100$544 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Oakland, CA 94611 79%2,420$180,549$1,537,700$751 pricier homes ($322K more) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98115 78%2,316$156,142$1,094,600$578 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · younger residents
Arlington, MA 02476 76%392$151,131$934,800$609 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($281K less) · smaller
Narberth, PA 19072 76%123$172,550$819,700$372 cheaper homes ($396K less) · smaller
West Newton, MA 02465 75%387$194,265$1,159,200$619 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Oakland, CA 94618 74%2,421$201,780$1,753,100$855 pricier homes ($537K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Albany, CA 94706 74%2,423$143,398$1,203,500$836 lower income ($36K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Needham Heights, MA 02494 73%385$179,720$1,107,700$530 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Pasadena, CA 91105 73%2,285$156,791$1,671,000$841 pricier homes ($455K more) · smaller
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 72%223$165,417$765,500$537 cheaper homes ($451K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 72%120$144,471$803,100$388 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($413K less)
Bethesda, MD 20814 72%4$150,996$989,600$425 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($226K less) · more renters
Austin, TX 78703 72%1,315$153,036$1,495,800$565 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($280K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30306 71%538$123,077$799,800$389 lower income ($56K less) · cheaper homes ($416K less) · younger residents
Greenwich, CT 06830 70%234$146,654$1,660,700$858 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($445K more)

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.