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 92606

Irvine: median income $135,598, home value $1,141,100, $788/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bellevue, WA 98007 86%988$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older homes
Austin, TX 78704 82%1,198$106,897$916,100$507 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33606 81%2,125$120,729$845,600$551 cheaper homes ($296K less) · younger residents
Redmond, WA 98052 81%991$163,460$1,180,600$620 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Bellevue, WA 98005 78%988$160,849$1,519,500$613 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($378K more) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98107 78%994$142,662$953,400$553 cheaper homes ($188K less) · 7 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98122 77%989$106,886$957,100$551 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($184K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98119 75%992$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 74%2,304$124,812$884,800$542 cheaper homes ($256K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Bellevue, WA 98004 71%988$182,545$2M+*$915 higher income ($47K more) · pricier homes ($859K more) · larger
Bothell, WA 98011 70%998$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($208K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98103 70%994$131,154$1,044,100$570 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22203 69%2,276$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($314K less) · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33133 69%2,309$103,420$1,022,400$923 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98116 68%988$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($168K less) · older residents · 10 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28209 67%2,097$101,873$623,000$446 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($518K less) · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78702 67%1,200$102,171$686,800$430 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($454K less)
Denver, CO 80209 67%823$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($123K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Seattle, WA 98109 66%991$133,663$1,034,100$649 cheaper homes ($107K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Arlington, VA 22201 65%2,277$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($360K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33129 65%2,310$113,367$736,300$632 cheaper homes ($405K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98102 65%991$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($178K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Nashville, TN 37204 64%1,760$109,580$907,500$447 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($234K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 64%996$99,868$874,300$489 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($267K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98144 64%988$96,969$901,700$489 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($239K less) · 7 min longer commute

* 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.