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 22207

Arlington: median income $245,745, home value $1,257,900, $511/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bethesda, MD 20816 92%4$232,656$1,217,200$495 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Bethesda, MD 20817 89%6$249,332$1,183,600$422 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 6 min longer commute
Winnetka, IL 60093 89%600$250,000+*$1,177,800$482 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Winchester, MA 01890 88%398$230,198$1,215,200$534 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Lexington, MA 02420 87%395$245,031$1,200,300$550 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Newton Center, MA 02459 86%391$227,594$1,450,900$586 pricier homes ($193K more) · smaller · older homes
Needham, MA 02492 85%386$226,645$1,218,800$564 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · less walkable
Wellesley, MA 02482 84%385$226,250$1,352,500$680 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Lexington, MA 02421 81%394$227,813$1,205,700$558 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98008 80%2,308$184,583$1,206,200$671 lower income ($61K less) · cheaper homes ($52K less)
Seattle, WA 98117 80%2,320$182,984$1,043,500$564 lower income ($63K less) · cheaper homes ($214K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55424 78%929$250,000+*$992,600$415 cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 77%387$250,000+*$1,694,600$672 pricier homes ($437K more) · smaller · younger residents
Bellevue, WA 98006 77%2,309$198,150$1,388,500$592 lower income ($48K less) · pricier homes ($131K more) · newer homes
Milton, MA 02186 75%393$188,033$933,200$547 lower income ($58K less) · cheaper homes ($325K less) · 8 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20015 75%5$250,000+*$1,245,600$557 smaller · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Westfield, NJ 07090 74%191$232,629$953,400$574 cheaper homes ($305K less) · 13 min longer commute
Ridgewood, NJ 07450 74%215$208,211$891,200$658 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($367K less) · 11 min longer commute
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 74%2,407$186,225$1,339,900$665 lower income ($60K less) · pricier homes ($82K more) · 6 min longer commute
Westwood, MA 02090 73%386$223,125$1,041,500$493 cheaper homes ($216K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Potomac, MD 20854 73%10$250,000+*$1,165,400$370 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28207 73%328$217,204$1,409,300$595 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($151K more) · smaller
Mercer Island, WA 98040 73%2,313$219,069$2M+*$799 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($742K more) · more renters
Kensington, MD 20895 72%9$173,625$781,500$396 lower income ($72K less) · cheaper homes ($476K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33629 72%819$164,355$851,400$493 lower income ($81K less) · cheaper homes ($407K less) · newer homes

* 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.