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 22213

Arlington: median income $199,306, home value $1,064,500, $507/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Needham Heights, MA 02494 90%390$179,720$1,107,700$530 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Devon, PA 19333 85%122$173,107$760,700$386 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($304K less) · larger
Auburndale, MA 02466 79%391$170,089$1,174,000$561 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Bedford, MA 01730 78%396$172,400$898,500$496 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger
Cos Cob, CT 06807 78%241$192,115$1,443,200$722 pricier homes ($379K more) · larger · less walkable
Florham Park, NJ 07932 77%196$156,458$791,100$530 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($273K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98199 77%2,319$180,789$1,198,700$629 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger
Madison, NJ 07940 76%194$172,708$940,900$609 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 76%228$165,417$765,500$537 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($299K less) · larger
Irvington, NY 10533 75%229$174,038$874,400$588 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger
Eastchester, NY 10709 74%228$170,417$847,900$497 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 74%7$194,971$1,294,200$480 pricier homes ($230K more) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98136 73%2,319$149,269$925,000$544 lower income ($50K less) · cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
Narberth, PA 19072 72%128$172,550$819,700$372 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($245K less) · larger
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 71%129$149,232$632,000$327 lower income ($50K less) · cheaper homes ($433K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28207 71%326$217,204$1,409,300$595 pricier homes ($345K more) · larger · older residents
East Walpole, MA 02032 70%385$180,682$702,300$365 cheaper homes ($362K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 70%125$144,471$803,100$388 lower income ($55K less) · cheaper homes ($261K less) · larger
Essex, MA 01929 69%422$156,442$902,000$416 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($163K less) · more single-family homes
Lexington, MA 02421 69%396$227,813$1,205,700$558 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($141K more) · larger
Summit, NJ 07901 69%195$179,701$987,900$715 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Harrison, NY 10528 69%232$154,416$937,500$598 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger
Pleasantville, NY 10570 69%236$183,833$862,300$470 cheaper homes ($202K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Haverford, PA 19041 69%125$151,989$954,000$356 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
West Newton, MA 02465 68%392$194,265$1,159,200$619 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · older 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.