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 22203

Arlington: median income $140,135, home value $826,800, $511/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20001 95%6$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98107 92%2,321$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($127K more)
Chicago, IL 60642 90%592$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($233K less)
Washington, DC 20003 87%7$159,846$957,700$625 pricier homes ($131K more)
Seattle, WA 98122 85%2,318$106,886$957,100$551 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98109 83%2,320$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($207K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Cambridge, MA 02141 82%398$126,522$868,100$842 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · older homes
Chicago, IL 60611 82%591$125,675$650,800$394 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Bellevue, WA 98007 82%2,310$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($191K more) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98102 82%2,319$114,925$963,200$617 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($136K more) · older homes
Chicago, IL 60601 81%590$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($301K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98121 80%2,320$152,019$848,400$575 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Miami, FL 33131 79%923$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($172K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Denver, CO 80202 79%1,486$114,151$722,700$467 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($104K less) · newer homes
Rockville, MD 20852 78%12$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · older residents
Orlando, FL 32814 78%752$140,274$754,300$363 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · newer homes
Emeryville, CA 94608 78%2,423$120,239$849,600$508 older homes
Seattle, WA 98101 78%2,319$128,882$784,200$657 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33606 77%815$120,729$845,600$551 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20005 76%5$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 76%898$124,812$884,800$542 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents · newer homes
Austin, TX 78704 76%1,314$106,897$916,100$507 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Irvine, CA 92612 76%2,277$106,226$993,800$750 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($167K more)
Seattle, WA 98119 76%2,321$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($221K more) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28203 75%327$104,696$707,800$459 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($119K less) · 7 min shorter commute

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.