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 Alexandria, VA 22301

Alexandria: median income $194,819, home value $1,027,900, $616/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Auburndale, MA 02466 91%390$170,089$1,174,000$561 pricier homes ($146K more) · smaller
Washington, DC 20016 88%8$178,920$1,216,000$565 pricier homes ($188K more) · larger · older residents
Newtonville, MA 02460 87%392$177,837$1,224,600$588 pricier homes ($197K more) · older residents · older homes
Newton, MA 02458 82%393$153,520$1,136,100$544 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($108K more) · older homes
Arlington, MA 02474 82%397$150,560$933,200$598 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Belmont, MA 02478 82%395$183,137$1,159,000$601 pricier homes ($131K more) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98199 81%2,327$180,789$1,198,700$629 pricier homes ($171K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98112 80%2,322$171,572$1,549,100$681 pricier homes ($521K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Albany, CA 94706 77%2,426$143,398$1,203,500$836 lower income ($51K less) · pricier homes ($176K more)
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 76%227$165,417$765,500$537 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($262K less) · 6 min longer commute
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 76%11$194,971$1,294,200$480 pricier homes ($266K more) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20007 75%7$140,996$1,292,400$727 lower income ($54K less) · pricier homes ($265K more) · larger
Brookline, MA 02445 73%394$139,747$1,227,000$776 lower income ($55K less) · pricier homes ($199K more) · larger
West Newton, MA 02465 73%391$194,265$1,159,200$619 pricier homes ($131K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 73%392$169,104$1,339,100$622 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($311K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98115 73%2,322$156,142$1,094,600$578 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Narberth, PA 19072 71%127$172,550$819,700$372 cheaper homes ($208K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Bethesda, MD 20814 71%13$150,996$989,600$425 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Needham Heights, MA 02494 70%389$179,720$1,107,700$530 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Madison, NJ 07940 70%194$172,708$940,900$609 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Denver, CO 80209 70%1,488$125,733$1,018,300$513 lower income ($69K less) · larger · newer homes
Arlington, MA 02476 69%396$151,131$934,800$609 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30306 69%534$123,077$799,800$389 lower income ($72K less) · cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30307 69%534$140,677$727,200$357 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($301K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94131 69%2,437$199,211$1,713,300$1,192 pricier homes ($685K more) · larger

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.