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 22209

Arlington: median income $120,515, home value $820,000, $602/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cambridge, MA 02141 90%395$126,522$868,100$842 pricier homes ($48K more)
Washington, DC 20005 90%3$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($179K less) · older homes
Washington, DC 20037 89%1$111,153$685,300$639 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Washington, DC 20001 88%3$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98102 86%2,320$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($143K more) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60601 82%592$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($294K less) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60611 82%592$125,675$650,800$394 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60642 82%594$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($226K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98101 79%2,320$128,882$784,200$657 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more renters · newer homes
Washington, DC 20003 78%5$159,846$957,700$625 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($138K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98122 78%2,319$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($137K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60610 77%593$105,226$505,900$394 cheaper homes ($314K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80202 77%1,487$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($97K less) · more walkable · newer homes
Irvine, CA 92612 77%2,279$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($174K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98109 77%2,321$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($214K more) · larger · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 76%2,303$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($260K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98107 76%2,322$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20024 75%3$107,411$526,700$367 cheaper homes ($293K less) · older homes
Miami, FL 33131 75%925$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98121 75%2,321$152,019$848,400$575 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Bellevue, WA 98007 74%2,311$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($198K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Boston, MA 02114 73%396$132,210$924,400$1,148 pricier homes ($104K more) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98119 73%2,322$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($228K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Charlotte, NC 28203 72%329$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($112K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60661 72%593$125,741$392,900$407 cheaper homes ($427K less) · newer 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.