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 Irvine, CA 92602

Irvine: median income $161,620, home value $1,502,000, $877/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Redmond, WA 98052 79%989$163,460$1,180,600$620 cheaper homes ($321K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bellevue, WA 98005 77%986$160,849$1,519,500$613 older homes
Kirkland, WA 98033 77%990$182,500$1,491,700$742 more homeowners · older homes
Issaquah, WA 98029 76%980$170,759$1,063,200$525 cheaper homes ($439K less) · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75205 72%1,210$181,631$1,706,700$693 pricier homes ($205K more) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Bellevue, WA 98004 72%986$182,545$2M+*$915 pricier homes ($498K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Bothell, WA 98011 66%995$131,667$933,000$486 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($569K less) · older homes
Issaquah, WA 98027 63%976$153,301$996,600$507 cheaper homes ($505K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Kirkland, WA 98034 62%993$135,219$946,300$565 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($556K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33146 61%2,302$131,500$1,318,200$804 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($184K less) · younger residents
Austin, TX 78746 61%1,189$188,414$1,494,300$557 higher income ($27K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Woodinville, WA 98072 59%995$175,805$1,122,200$544 cheaper homes ($380K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78703 58%1,193$153,036$1,495,800$565 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Seattle, WA 98107 58%992$142,662$953,400$553 cheaper homes ($549K less) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Herndon, VA 20171 57%2,256$171,372$797,200$331 cheaper homes ($705K less) · larger
Mc Lean, VA 22102 57%2,265$153,949$955,500$417 cheaper homes ($547K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Houston, TX 77024 56%1,332$136,149$1,127,500$414 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($375K less) · older residents
Louisville, CO 80027 56%818$154,232$890,200$358 cheaper homes ($612K less) · more homeowners
Princeton, NJ 08540 55%2,396$176,983$767,900$431 cheaper homes ($734K less) · larger · more homeowners
Falls Church, VA 22043 55%2,267$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($620K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Boulder, CO 80304 55%814$126,558$1,210,200$619 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($292K less) · older residents
Kenmore, WA 98028 55%996$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($581K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 54%2,408$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($711K less) · smaller · older residents
Tampa, FL 33606 54%2,121$120,729$845,600$551 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($656K less) · younger residents
Nashville, TN 37204 54%1,755$109,580$907,500$447 lower income ($52K less) · cheaper homes ($595K less) · smaller

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.