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 92614

Irvine: median income $122,821, home value $1,076,700, $822/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bellevue, WA 98007 91%989$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Austin, TX 78704 84%1,198$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33606 82%2,125$120,729$845,600$551 cheaper homes ($231K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98119 81%993$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more walkable · older homes
Seattle, WA 98122 81%990$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($120K less) · more walkable
Miami, FL 33133 79%2,309$103,420$1,022,400$923 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98107 78%995$142,662$953,400$553 cheaper homes ($123K less) · more walkable
Redmond, WA 98052 77%992$163,460$1,180,600$620 higher income ($41K more) · pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22203 75%2,277$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($250K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 75%2,304$124,812$884,800$542 cheaper homes ($192K less) · older residents · newer homes
Cambridge, MA 02141 74%2,580$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($209K less) · smaller · more renters
Seattle, WA 98116 74%989$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($103K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33129 73%2,310$113,367$736,300$632 cheaper homes ($340K less) · smaller · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98005 73%989$160,849$1,519,500$613 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($443K more) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98102 73%992$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($114K less) · more walkable · older homes
Washington, DC 20001 72%2,282$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($224K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98103 72%995$131,154$1,044,100$570 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more walkable
Arlington, VA 22201 71%2,278$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($295K less)
Charlotte, NC 28209 70%2,098$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($454K less)
Bothell, WA 98011 70%998$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($144K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
New York, NY 10038 69%2,435$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($155K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Mc Lean, VA 22102 69%2,270$153,949$955,500$417 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($121K less)
Arlington, VA 22209 69%2,279$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($257K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98144 69%988$96,969$901,700$489 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($175K less) · more walkable
Alexandria, VA 22305 68%2,280$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($212K less) · smaller · older homes

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.