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 20037

Washington: median income $111,153, home value $685,300, $639/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, VA 22209 89%1$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($135K more)
Seattle, WA 98102 81%2,321$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($278K more) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02141 79%394$126,522$868,100$842 pricier homes ($183K more) · 6 min longer commute
Philadelphia, PA 19103 79%124$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · older homes
Boston, MA 02114 77%394$132,210$924,400$1,148 pricier homes ($239K more)
Chicago, IL 60610 76%594$105,226$505,900$394 cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60611 76%593$125,675$650,800$394 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19102 72%124$102,093$479,000$322 cheaper homes ($206K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22201 72%3$145,000$781,600$625 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($96K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22202 72%3$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($214K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22203 71%4$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($142K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60601 71%593$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($159K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 70%2,305$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($394K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60642 69%595$143,175$593,600$385 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98122 68%2,320$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($272K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 67%189$114,167$610,200$344 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98101 67%2,321$128,882$784,200$657 pricier homes ($99K more) · more renters · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98119 67%2,323$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($362K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33131 66%926$144,138$655,100$622 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60661 66%594$125,741$392,900$407 cheaper homes ($292K less) · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75206 66%1,178$91,023$615,400$363 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19106 65%125$121,047$517,900$407 cheaper homes ($167K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60607 65%594$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($186K less) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60614 65%595$136,448$720,400$506 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Santa Cruz, CA 95064 65%2,431$121,042$467,000— cheaper homes ($218K less) · younger residents · less walkable

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.