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 Arlington, VA 22201

Arlington: median income $145,000, home value $781,600, $625/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20001 93%4$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($71K more)
Seattle, WA 98107 89%2,322$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($172K more)
Washington, DC 20003 88%6$159,846$957,700$625 pricier homes ($176K more) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60642 83%593$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60614 81%593$136,448$720,400$506 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · older homes
Cambridge, MA 02141 80%396$126,522$868,100$842 pricier homes ($87K more) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60611 80%591$125,675$650,800$394 cheaper homes ($131K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98109 80%2,320$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($253K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98102 78%2,319$114,925$963,200$617 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($182K more) · older homes
Chicago, IL 60601 77%591$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($255K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98122 77%2,318$106,886$957,100$551 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($176K more)
Miami, FL 33131 76%924$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33606 76%816$120,729$845,600$551 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Bellevue, WA 98007 75%2,311$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($237K more) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Seattle, WA 98121 75%2,320$152,019$848,400$575 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60654 74%592$147,357$500,400$404 cheaper homes ($281K less) · newer homes
Jersey City, NJ 07302 73%205$175,077$865,100$888 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20005 73%4$116,724$640,600$605 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60607 73%593$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($282K less) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20037 72%3$111,153$685,300$639 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Rockville, MD 20852 71%11$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($116K less) · older residents
Chicago, IL 60610 71%592$105,226$505,900$394 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($276K less) · older homes
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 71%2,304$146,167$1,272,200$834 pricier homes ($491K more) · smaller · older residents
Irvine, CA 92614 71%2,278$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($295K more)
San Francisco, CA 94107 71%2,431$182,897$1,222,500$1,051 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($441K 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.