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 Los Angeles, CA 90025

Los Angeles: median income $103,894, home value $1,079,700, $699/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98102 94%960$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98122 90%959$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($123K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98119 85%961$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Cambridge, MA 02141 83%2,600$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($212K less) · smaller
New York, NY 10038 83%2,457$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller
Washington, DC 20001 79%2,306$138,059$852,600$552 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($227K less)
Bellevue, WA 98007 77%957$131,109$1,018,100$543 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22209 76%2,303$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($260K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78704 76%1,236$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($164K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22202 74%2,304$133,762$899,000$453 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($181K less) · smaller
Washington, DC 20005 73%2,306$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($439K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22203 73%2,301$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($253K less) · smaller
Boston, MA 02111 72%2,601$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22305 72%2,304$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($215K less) · smaller · older homes
New York, NY 10019 71%2,457$128,559$1,061,300$1,244 less walkable
Boston, MA 02114 70%2,601$132,210$924,400$1,148 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller
Brighton, MA 02135 70%2,597$90,829$681,200$631 cheaper homes ($399K less) · 8 min longer commute · older homes
New York, NY 10016 70%2,458$140,381$905,000$1,232 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($175K less) · less walkable
Washington, DC 20037 70%2,305$111,153$685,300$639 cheaper homes ($394K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98109 70%960$133,663$1,034,100$649 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Boston, MA 02118 69%2,601$98,224$1,058,200$1,078 smaller · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19103 69%2,399$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($497K less) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98101 69%959$128,882$784,200$657 cheaper homes ($296K less) · smaller · newer homes
Denver, CO 80206 68%842$101,594$915,400$427 cheaper homes ($164K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20002 67%2,308$120,337$826,400$494 cheaper homes ($253K less) · larger · 6 min longer 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.