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 22202

Arlington: median income $133,762, home value $899,000, $453/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20001 88%4$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60642 83%595$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($305K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98102 83%2,322$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($64K more) · older homes
Chicago, IL 60611 81%594$125,675$650,800$394 cheaper homes ($248K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98107 80%2,324$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($54K more) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98122 80%2,321$106,886$957,100$551 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02141 78%396$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98109 78%2,323$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($135K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Washington, DC 20003 77%4$159,846$957,700$625 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($59K more) · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20005 77%4$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($258K less) · smaller · older homes
Bellevue, WA 98007 77%2,313$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($119K more) · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60601 75%593$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($373K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98101 75%2,322$128,882$784,200$657 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60610 74%595$105,226$505,900$394 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($393K less) · larger
Los Angeles, CA 90025 74%2,304$103,894$1,079,700$699 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($181K more) · larger
Emeryville, CA 94608 74%2,426$120,239$849,600$508 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98121 74%2,323$152,019$848,400$575 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Denver, CO 80202 73%1,489$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($176K less) · more walkable · newer homes
Washington, DC 20037 72%3$111,153$685,300$639 cheaper homes ($214K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Rockville, MD 20852 72%14$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75206 72%1,177$91,023$615,400$363 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($284K less)
Houston, TX 77027 72%1,221$103,812$859,500$362 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($40K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77098 72%1,219$116,650$787,300$293 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98119 72%2,324$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($149K more) · more homeowners · older homes
Washington, DC 20024 71%3$107,411$526,700$367 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($372K less) · smaller

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.