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 20032

Washington: median income $49,139, home value $407,700, $215/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newark, NJ 07104 92%201$53,978$388,800$219 Very close on everything we compare
Orange, NJ 07050 89%198$52,563$364,500$306 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Newark, NJ 07107 89%200$51,242$379,500$262 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Newark, NJ 07112 88%197$58,200$336,500$193 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Newark, NJ 07105 87%200$59,847$471,600$273 pricier homes ($64K more)
Newark, NJ 07108 85%198$36,200$399,400$192 Very close on everything we compare
East Orange, NJ 07017 83%200$58,853$374,800$252 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Irvington, NJ 07111 83%197$61,609$335,600$287 cheaper homes ($72K less)
East Orange, NJ 07018 81%199$62,564$353,800$271 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Newark, NJ 07106 81%197$53,440$355,400$243 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Yonkers, NY 10701 81%221$64,776$370,400$306 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60653 81%595$40,666$361,000$197 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Newark, NJ 07103 80%199$51,534$318,800$235 cheaper homes ($89K less) · newer homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07201 79%195$60,080$467,500$296 pricier homes ($60K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Dorchester, MA 02121 78%392$43,136$590,200$269 pricier homes ($183K more) · older homes
Bridgeport, CT 06604 78%258$50,026$267,100$210 cheaper homes ($141K less) · older homes
Bridgeport, CT 06605 78%257$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 76%221$60,701$494,300$300 pricier homes ($87K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Bladensburg, MD 20710 76%8$63,810$337,800$233 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Las Vegas, NV 89169 76%2,085$40,904$315,100$213 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07114 75%198$36,019$373,200$226 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75243 75%1,175$53,618$386,100$172 larger · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Orlando, FL 32839 74%758$47,313$280,700$191 cheaper homes ($127K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Las Vegas, NV 89119 74%2,085$46,960$328,100$219 cheaper homes ($80K less) · 10 min shorter commute · newer homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 73%195$65,511$459,200$321 pricier homes ($52K more) · 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.