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 Bethesda, MD 20816

Bethesda: median income $232,656, home value $1,217,200, $495/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, MA 02420 94%392$245,031$1,200,300$550 Very close on everything we compare
Winnetka, IL 60093 94%599$250,000+*$1,177,800$482 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Winchester, MA 01890 92%395$230,198$1,215,200$534 Very close on everything we compare
Newton Center, MA 02459 92%389$227,594$1,450,900$586 pricier homes ($234K more) · older homes
Wellesley, MA 02482 92%382$226,250$1,352,500$680 pricier homes ($135K more) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22205 92%5$201,094$1,092,800$542 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($124K less)
Arlington, VA 22207 92%4$245,745$1,257,900$511 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Lexington, MA 02421 90%391$227,813$1,205,700$558 Very close on everything we compare
Needham, MA 02492 87%384$226,645$1,218,800$564 less walkable
Newton Highlands, MA 02461 83%387$224,000$1,255,400$684 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20015 83%3$250,000+*$1,245,600$557 pricier homes ($28K more) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Mc Lean, VA 22101 83%3$250,000+*$1,449,900$478 pricier homes ($233K more) · larger · less walkable
Ridgewood, NJ 07450 80%212$208,211$891,200$658 cheaper homes ($326K less) · 7 min longer commute
Wilmette, IL 60091 80%597$189,909$807,200$457 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($410K less) · larger
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 79%384$250,000+*$1,694,600$672 pricier homes ($477K more) · younger residents
Charlotte, NC 28207 79%331$217,204$1,409,300$595 pricier homes ($192K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Southport, CT 06890 78%252$218,841$1,212,500$550 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Westfield, NJ 07090 78%188$232,629$953,400$574 cheaper homes ($264K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Glencoe, IL 60022 78%600$250,000+*$1,392,900$503 pricier homes ($176K more) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98117 78%2,318$182,984$1,043,500$564 lower income ($50K less) · cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger
Needham Heights, MA 02494 77%385$179,720$1,107,700$530 lower income ($53K less) · cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Vienna, VA 22181 77%10$211,911$998,300$402 cheaper homes ($219K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55424 77%927$250,000+*$992,600$415 cheaper homes ($225K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Milton, MA 02186 76%390$188,033$933,200$547 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($284K less) · larger
Chatham, NJ 07928 76%189$220,982$1,024,100$676 cheaper homes ($193K less) · 8 min longer commute · less walkable

* 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.