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 92612

Irvine: median income $106,226, home value $993,800, $750/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98122 89%992$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cambridge, MA 02141 82%2,581$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller · older homes
Austin, TX 78704 80%1,198$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Bellevue, WA 98007 79%990$131,109$1,018,100$543 more single-family homes · older homes
Seattle, WA 98102 78%993$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98109 78%994$133,663$1,034,100$649 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($40K more) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20001 77%2,282$138,059$852,600$552 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($141K less)
Arlington, VA 22209 77%2,279$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33602 77%2,125$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($341K less) · smaller · newer homes
New York, NY 10038 76%2,435$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · older homes
Arlington, VA 22203 76%2,277$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($167K less)
Dallas, TX 75201 76%1,214$103,761$688,100$614 cheaper homes ($306K less) · smaller · more renters
Seattle, WA 98101 76%992$128,882$784,200$657 cheaper homes ($210K less) · smaller · more renters
Miami, FL 33132 75%2,310$109,109$524,300$550 cheaper homes ($470K less) · smaller · newer homes
Boston, MA 02111 74%2,582$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · older homes
Miami, FL 33137 74%2,309$94,036$616,800$672 cheaper homes ($377K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 73%2,304$124,812$884,800$542 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80202 72%825$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($271K less) · smaller · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98119 71%994$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($54K more) · more homeowners · older homes
Arlington, VA 22202 70%2,280$133,762$899,000$453 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($95K less)
Charlotte, NC 28203 70%2,097$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($286K less) · smaller · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33606 70%2,125$120,729$845,600$551 cheaper homes ($148K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22201 69%2,278$145,000$781,600$625 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($212K less)
Dallas, TX 75206 69%1,216$91,023$615,400$363 cheaper homes ($378K less)
Houston, TX 77027 69%1,340$103,812$859,500$362 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · older residents

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.