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 22305

Alexandria: median income $113,537, home value $864,500, $521/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
White Plains, NY 10606 91%231$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($182K less)
Waltham, MA 02453 89%391$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger
Emeryville, CA 94608 88%2,426$120,239$849,600$508 larger · newer homes
North Hollywood, CA 91602 87%2,297$102,914$1,055,900$636 pricier homes ($191K more) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98119 85%2,324$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($183K more) · larger
Watertown, MA 02472 83%393$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80205 83%1,487$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($215K less) · larger
Long Beach, CA 90814 83%2,295$104,650$950,700$602 pricier homes ($86K more) · less walkable
Pasadena, CA 91106 81%2,285$90,028$1,040,400$734 pricier homes ($176K more) · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92110 81%2,270$110,790$1,006,800$631 pricier homes ($142K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Bellevue, WA 98007 81%2,314$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($154K more) · larger · newer homes
Somerville, MA 02145 80%398$123,755$828,600$598 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Valley Village, CA 91607 79%2,299$87,874$1,030,500$681 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($166K more) · larger
Waltham, MA 02452 78%393$118,431$808,300$429 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Tarrytown, NY 10591 78%231$104,984$681,000$564 cheaper homes ($184K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
West Harrison, NY 10604 78%234$117,014$735,700$479 cheaper homes ($129K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20010 78%7$114,126$886,600$471 larger · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Denver, CO 80218 78%1,488$81,706$676,700$398 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($188K less)
Sacramento, CA 95816 78%2,370$90,839$839,700$504 7 min shorter commute
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 77%214$94,743$719,600$511 cheaper homes ($145K less) · older residents · newer homes
New York, NY 10038 77%208$105,419$921,900$1,006 pricier homes ($57K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Washington, DC 20002 77%6$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Miami Beach, FL 33140 77%917$107,063$866,900$623 older residents · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80206 77%1,487$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($51K more) · more homeowners
West Hollywood, CA 90069 77%2,299$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($210K more) · older residents

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.