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 22206

Arlington: median income $140,877, home value $586,000, $431/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60622 88%596$136,277$638,100$414 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19130 83%129$112,037$491,800$347 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($94K less)
Conshohocken, PA 19428 83%128$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20024 83%5$107,411$526,700$367 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($59K less) · more renters
Washington, DC 20005 82%6$116,724$640,600$605 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19106 81%129$121,047$517,900$407 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older residents · more walkable
Watertown, MA 02472 80%394$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($199K more) · larger · older homes
Washington, DC 20002 79%7$120,337$826,400$494 pricier homes ($240K more) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60614 78%595$136,448$720,400$506 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger
Secaucus, NJ 07094 77%210$139,821$571,900$352 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes · newer homes
Rockville, MD 20852 77%14$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · newer homes
Washington, DC 20017 75%8$106,300$702,600$370 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($117K more)
Chicago, IL 60610 75%593$105,226$505,900$394 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60611 75%593$125,675$650,800$394 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · newer homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 74%182$104,694$471,700$342 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($114K less) · more single-family homes
Silver Spring, MD 20910 74%11$112,134$730,900$364 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($145K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60642 74%594$143,175$593,600$385 more renters · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60657 74%595$110,939$537,800$428 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Waltham, MA 02453 73%392$115,366$705,100$473 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($119K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19103 73%128$99,644$582,500$477 lower income ($41K less) · more renters · more walkable
Philadelphia, PA 19146 73%127$103,059$461,000$340 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20001 73%6$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($267K more) · larger · more renters
Denver, CO 80206 73%1,485$101,594$915,400$427 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($329K more) · more single-family homes
Emeryville, CA 94608 73%2,425$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($264K more) · larger · more renters
Seattle, WA 98119 73%2,323$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($462K more) · more single-family homes

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.