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 20017

Washington: median income $106,300, home value $702,600, $370/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, VA 22302 89%9$123,539$631,100$441 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Quincy, MA 02171 85%389$106,885$662,900$512 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Falls Church, VA 22044 85%10$101,034$775,600$339 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Watertown, MA 02472 84%386$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Tarrytown, NY 10591 84%223$104,984$681,000$564 older residents
Conshohocken, PA 19428 82%120$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($224K less) · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22303 82%11$103,656$552,800$386 cheaper homes ($150K less) · newer homes
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 81%222$126,417$729,600$560 pricier homes ($27K more) · more single-family homes
Port Chester, NY 10573 81%227$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22204 81%8$107,941$688,000$418 larger · more renters
Alexandria, VA 22312 81%12$109,272$604,200$325 cheaper homes ($98K less) · newer homes
Miami Beach, FL 33140 81%924$107,063$866,900$623 pricier homes ($164K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Evanston, IL 60202 81%601$98,989$397,600$300 cheaper homes ($305K less) · larger
Roslindale, MA 02131 80%385$111,006$664,700$517 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19146 80%119$103,059$461,000$340 cheaper homes ($242K less) · larger
Waltham, MA 02453 79%384$115,366$705,100$473 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Edison, NJ 08837 79%179$102,605$437,900$389 cheaper homes ($265K less) · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19147 79%120$105,755$530,900$366 cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger · older homes
Evanston, IL 60201 79%602$90,545$590,700$370 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Medford, MA 02155 78%391$129,700$755,500$496 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Ardmore, PA 19003 78%117$119,861$448,500$329 cheaper homes ($254K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 77%174$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($231K less) · more renters
Elmsford, NY 10523 77%223$118,438$588,100$449 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
White Plains, NY 10603 77%224$121,026$503,000$424 cheaper homes ($200K less) · more single-family homes
Falls Church, VA 22041 77%10$92,636$452,300$311 cheaper homes ($250K less) · newer 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.