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 22314

Alexandria: median income $148,451, home value $899,000, $624/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20001 86%8$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents · more renters
Seattle, WA 98107 85%2,326$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($54K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20003 83%6$159,846$957,700$625 pricier homes ($59K more) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60614 80%597$136,448$720,400$506 cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger · younger residents
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 80%2,307$146,167$1,272,200$834 pricier homes ($373K more) · smaller · more renters
Edgewater, NJ 07020 79%215$124,050$715,700$525 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Bethesda, MD 20814 78%14$150,996$989,600$425 pricier homes ($91K more) · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60611 78%596$125,675$650,800$394 cheaper homes ($248K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 78%2,307$134,313$997,600$700 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller · older homes
Rockville, MD 20852 75%17$122,472$665,200$359 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($234K less)
Chicago, IL 60642 75%597$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($305K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94107 74%2,435$182,897$1,222,500$1,051 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($324K more) · newer homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94597 73%2,415$132,063$1,026,800$597 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98119 73%2,326$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($149K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Hoboken, NJ 07030 71%209$180,579$895,100$974 higher income ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 71%2,414$135,635$1,277,800$653 pricier homes ($379K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98102 71%2,324$114,925$963,200$617 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($64K more) · younger residents
Washington, DC 20005 70%7$116,724$640,600$605 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($258K less) · smaller
Cambridge, MA 02141 69%398$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · younger residents
Austin, TX 78701 69%1,313$162,168$722,400$705 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Emeryville, CA 94608 69%2,427$120,239$849,600$508 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · more renters
Seattle, WA 98103 69%2,325$131,154$1,044,100$570 pricier homes ($145K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33129 68%920$113,367$736,300$632 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33131 68%919$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 68%894$124,812$884,800$542 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · 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.