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 20024

Washington: median income $107,411, home value $526,700, $367/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Philadelphia, PA 19130 88%124$112,037$491,800$347 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60610 88%596$105,226$505,900$394 larger
Philadelphia, PA 19123 83%125$102,106$539,500$326 newer homes
Arlington, VA 22206 83%5$140,877$586,000$431 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($59K more) · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19103 82%123$99,644$582,500$477 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19106 79%124$121,047$517,900$407 older residents · more homeowners · more walkable
Alexandria, VA 22304 79%7$101,600$508,200$320 larger
Chicago, IL 60613 79%598$95,572$390,800$337 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80203 79%1,490$77,500$470,800$361 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($56K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Silver Spring, MD 20910 78%9$112,134$730,900$364 pricier homes ($204K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Schaumburg, IL 60173 78%620$104,390$372,000$265 cheaper homes ($155K less) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60642 78%597$143,175$593,600$385 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($67K more) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80218 78%1,490$81,706$676,700$398 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($150K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22303 77%7$103,656$552,800$386 pricier homes ($26K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60611 77%595$125,675$650,800$394 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60657 77%598$110,939$537,800$428 larger
Highland Park, NJ 08904 76%178$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19102 76%123$102,093$479,000$322 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · more renters
Rockville, MD 20852 76%13$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($139K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22209 75%3$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($293K more) · newer homes
Reston, VA 20190 74%18$134,746$581,400$402 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents
Arlington, VA 22204 73%5$107,941$688,000$418 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75206 73%1,179$91,023$615,400$363 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Emeryville, CA 94608 73%2,428$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($323K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Conshohocken, PA 19428 72%124$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more homeowners · 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.