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 60642

Chicago: median income $143,175, home value $593,600, $385/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, VA 22203 90%592$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($233K more)
Washington, DC 20001 88%596$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($259K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22201 83%593$145,000$781,600$625 pricier homes ($188K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22202 83%595$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($305K more) · more renters
Arlington, VA 22209 82%594$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($226K more) · smaller
Reston, VA 20190 81%579$134,746$581,400$402 older residents · more homeowners · less walkable
Philadelphia, PA 19123 80%665$102,106$539,500$326 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($54K less)
Atlanta, GA 30309 80%587$114,072$432,300$342 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($161K less)
Denver, CO 80202 80%917$114,151$722,700$467 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($129K more) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33131 79%1,193$144,138$655,100$622 pricier homes ($62K more) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Washington, DC 20003 78%598$159,846$957,700$625 pricier homes ($364K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20024 78%597$107,411$526,700$367 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30326 78%585$121,984$448,000$323 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98107 78%1,733$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($360K more) · more single-family homes
Rockville, MD 20852 77%587$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · older residents
Orlando, FL 32814 77%987$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($161K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77006 77%944$106,533$614,800$275 lower income ($37K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20005 76%595$116,724$640,600$605 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98121 76%1,732$152,019$848,400$575 pricier homes ($255K more) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22314 75%597$148,451$899,000$624 pricier homes ($305K more) · larger · older residents
Dallas, TX 75219 75%804$102,364$388,600$304 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($205K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77098 75%945$116,650$787,300$293 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($194K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Fairfax, VA 22031 74%585$134,577$723,600$356 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22206 74%594$140,877$586,000$431 more homeowners · older homes
Houston, TX 77019 74%944$116,423$816,500$298 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($223K 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.