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 60611

Chicago: median income $125,675, home value $650,800, $394/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20001 85%594$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($202K more)
Arlington, VA 22203 82%591$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($176K more)
Arlington, VA 22209 82%592$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($169K more) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22202 81%594$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($248K more) · more renters
Reston, VA 20190 80%577$134,746$581,400$402 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · less walkable
Arlington, VA 22201 80%591$145,000$781,600$625 pricier homes ($131K more) · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30309 80%587$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($219K less) · newer homes
Rockville, MD 20852 79%586$122,472$665,200$359 more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20005 78%594$116,724$640,600$605 smaller · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22314 78%596$148,451$899,000$624 pricier homes ($248K more) · 6 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20024 77%595$107,411$526,700$367 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20037 76%593$111,153$685,300$639 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19106 75%664$121,047$517,900$407 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20003 75%597$159,846$957,700$625 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($307K more) · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22206 75%593$140,877$586,000$431 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · older homes
Miami, FL 33131 75%1,192$144,138$655,100$622 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Houston, TX 77006 75%945$106,533$614,800$275 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77098 75%946$116,650$787,300$293 pricier homes ($137K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30305 74%584$106,907$737,500$391 pricier homes ($87K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Fairfax, VA 22031 73%584$134,577$723,600$356 pricier homes ($73K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75206 72%802$91,023$615,400$363 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents
Houston, TX 77019 72%945$116,423$816,500$298 pricier homes ($166K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98107 72%1,735$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($303K more) · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19130 71%663$112,037$491,800$347 cheaper homes ($159K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98102 71%1,732$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($312K more) · more renters · 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.