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 60654

Chicago: median income $147,357, home value $500,400, $404/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33131 82%1,192$144,138$655,100$622 pricier homes ($155K more)
Atlanta, GA 30309 78%587$114,072$432,300$342 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98121 77%1,733$152,019$848,400$575 pricier homes ($348K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55401 75%354$113,522$396,500$318 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80202 75%918$114,151$722,700$467 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($222K more)
Arlington, VA 22201 74%592$145,000$781,600$625 pricier homes ($281K more) · older homes
Arlington, VA 22203 74%591$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($326K more) · older homes
Washington, DC 20003 73%597$159,846$957,700$625 pricier homes ($457K more)
Atlanta, GA 30326 73%584$121,984$448,000$323 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75219 71%804$102,364$388,600$304 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($112K less)
Washington, DC 20001 70%595$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($352K more) · larger · older homes
Orlando, FL 32814 70%986$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($254K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77006 70%944$106,533$614,800$275 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($114K more) · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22209 69%593$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($320K more) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28203 69%589$104,696$707,800$459 lower income ($43K less) · pricier homes ($207K more) · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77098 69%945$116,650$787,300$293 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($287K more) · older residents
Arlington, VA 22202 67%595$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($399K more) · more renters · less walkable
Austin, TX 78701 67%980$162,168$722,400$705 pricier homes ($222K more) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98109 66%1,733$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($534K more) · more renters
Charlotte, NC 28202 65%588$105,889$443,500$361 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($57K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55415 65%353$124,921$625,500$406 pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98101 65%1,732$128,882$784,200$657 pricier homes ($284K more) · smaller · more renters
Seattle, WA 98107 65%1,734$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($453K more) · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77019 64%944$116,423$816,500$298 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($316K more) · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20037 63%594$111,153$685,300$639 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($185K more) · smaller

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.