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 Chicago, IL 60601

Chicago: median income $121,458, home value $526,200, $494/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80202 89%919$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($197K more)
Arlington, VA 22209 82%592$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($294K more) · older homes
Stamford, CT 06901 81%730$102,641$478,700$463 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more renters
Arlington, VA 22203 81%590$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($301K more) · larger
Miami, FL 33131 81%1,192$144,138$655,100$622 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30326 79%583$121,984$448,000$323 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55401 79%355$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($130K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98101 79%1,733$128,882$784,200$657 pricier homes ($258K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Charlotte, NC 28204 78%589$92,054$585,200$326 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30309 78%586$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33132 78%1,190$109,109$524,300$550 Very close on everything we compare
Seattle, WA 98121 78%1,734$152,019$848,400$575 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($322K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Arlington, VA 22201 77%591$145,000$781,600$625 pricier homes ($255K more) · larger · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28203 77%588$104,696$707,800$459 pricier homes ($182K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75219 77%804$102,364$388,600$304 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20001 76%594$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($326K more) · larger · older homes
Arlington, VA 22202 75%593$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($373K more) · larger · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28202 75%587$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19123 74%664$102,106$539,500$326 older homes
Atlanta, GA 30308 74%588$85,693$390,200$359 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75201 74%805$103,761$688,100$614 pricier homes ($162K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Washington, DC 20003 73%596$159,846$957,700$625 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($432K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98109 73%1,734$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($508K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32814 72%985$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($228K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Tampa, FL 33602 72%1,005$97,320$653,100$431 pricier homes ($127K more) · 6 min shorter commute

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.