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 Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Chevy Chase: median income $194,971, home value $1,294,200, $480/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20016 90%3$178,920$1,216,000$565 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Falls Church, VA 22046 88%8$168,882$1,014,700$476 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($280K less) · smaller
Needham Heights, MA 02494 85%383$179,720$1,107,700$530 cheaper homes ($187K less) · smaller
Oakland, CA 94611 85%2,420$180,549$1,537,700$751 pricier homes ($244K more)
Seattle, WA 98199 85%2,320$180,789$1,198,700$629 cheaper homes ($96K less) · younger residents
Lexington, MA 02421 81%389$227,813$1,205,700$558 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Belmont, MA 02478 80%389$183,137$1,159,000$601 cheaper homes ($135K less) · older homes
Vienna, VA 22180 80%11$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($353K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 77%2,408$186,225$1,339,900$665 pricier homes ($46K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98115 77%2,315$156,142$1,094,600$578 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger
Narberth, PA 19072 76%121$172,550$819,700$372 cheaper homes ($475K less) · smaller · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22301 76%11$194,819$1,027,900$616 cheaper homes ($266K less) · smaller · younger residents
Winchester, MA 01890 75%393$230,198$1,215,200$534 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($79K less) · more homeowners
Oakland, CA 94618 75%2,421$201,780$1,753,100$855 pricier homes ($459K more) · smaller · older homes
Summit, NJ 07901 74%188$179,701$987,900$715 cheaper homes ($306K less) · 5 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20015 74%1$250,000+*$1,245,600$557 higher income ($55K more) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22213 74%7$199,306$1,064,500$507 cheaper homes ($230K less) · smaller · younger residents
Charlotte, NC 28207 74%333$217,204$1,409,300$595 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98112 74%2,315$171,572$1,549,100$681 pricier homes ($255K more) · younger residents · older homes
Seattle, WA 98117 74%2,319$182,984$1,043,500$564 cheaper homes ($251K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
West Newton, MA 02465 73%385$194,265$1,159,200$619 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · older homes
Auburndale, MA 02466 73%384$170,089$1,174,000$561 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · younger residents
Wayne, PA 19087 73%117$171,179$748,200$364 cheaper homes ($546K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Houston, TX 77024 73%1,225$136,149$1,127,500$414 lower income ($59K less) · cheaper homes ($167K less) · newer homes
Pasadena, CA 91105 73%2,285$156,791$1,671,000$841 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($377K more) · smaller

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or 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.