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 60614

Chicago: median income $136,448, home value $720,400, $506/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20001 83%596$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($132K more) · smaller · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22201 81%593$145,000$781,600$625 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22314 80%597$148,451$899,000$624 pricier homes ($179K more) · smaller · older residents
Arlington, VA 22206 78%595$140,877$586,000$431 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller
Washington, DC 20002 77%598$120,337$826,400$494 pricier homes ($106K more) · older homes
Silver Spring, MD 20910 76%593$112,134$730,900$364 smaller · more single-family homes
Fairfax, VA 22031 76%585$134,577$723,600$356 smaller · less walkable
Philadelphia, PA 19130 75%664$112,037$491,800$347 cheaper homes ($229K less) · smaller · older homes
Rockville, MD 20852 75%587$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22203 75%592$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller · more renters
Washington, DC 20008 74%593$125,212$965,100$596 pricier homes ($245K more) · smaller · older residents
Washington, DC 20005 73%596$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · more renters
Seattle, WA 98102 73%1,730$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($243K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98103 73%1,731$131,154$1,044,100$570 pricier homes ($324K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98119 72%1,732$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($327K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Bethesda, MD 20814 71%590$150,996$989,600$425 pricier homes ($269K more) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98107 71%1,733$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($233K more) · smaller · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22202 70%596$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($179K more) · smaller · more renters
Emeryville, CA 94608 70%1,845$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($129K more) · smaller · more renters
Hoboken, NJ 07030 69%710$180,579$895,100$974 higher income ($44K more) · pricier homes ($175K more) · 6 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22209 69%594$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19103 68%665$99,644$582,500$477 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller
Washington, DC 20009 68%595$146,664$722,500$636 older homes
Washington, DC 20024 67%597$107,411$526,700$367 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller
Mc Lean, VA 22102 67%585$153,949$955,500$417 pricier homes ($235K more) · smaller · 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.