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 92618

Irvine: median income $145,731, home value $1,283,800, $723/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Redmond, WA 98052 82%992$163,460$1,180,600$620 cheaper homes ($103K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98107 78%995$142,662$953,400$553 cheaper homes ($330K less) · smaller · older homes
Bellevue, WA 98004 75%989$182,545$2M+*$915 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($716K more) · smaller
Washington, DC 20003 69%2,276$159,846$957,700$625 cheaper homes ($326K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 69%2,297$124,812$884,800$542 cheaper homes ($399K less) · smaller · older residents
Issaquah, WA 98029 67%983$170,759$1,063,200$525 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller
Mc Lean, VA 22102 66%2,263$153,949$955,500$417 cheaper homes ($328K less) · smaller · older homes
Arlington, VA 22203 66%2,270$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($457K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Arlington, VA 22201 65%2,271$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($502K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33606 65%2,118$120,729$845,600$551 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($438K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78704 64%1,191$106,897$916,100$507 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($368K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98109 64%992$133,663$1,034,100$649 cheaper homes ($250K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Bellevue, WA 98007 62%988$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($266K less) · smaller · older homes
Bothell, WA 98011 62%998$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($351K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98122 62%990$106,886$957,100$551 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($327K less) · smaller
Bellevue, WA 98005 61%989$160,849$1,519,500$613 pricier homes ($236K more) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20001 59%2,275$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($431K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Herndon, VA 20171 59%2,255$171,372$797,200$331 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($487K less) · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22314 59%2,273$148,451$899,000$624 cheaper homes ($385K less) · smaller · older residents
Fairfax, VA 22030 58%2,259$139,831$740,400$347 cheaper homes ($543K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Orlando, FL 32814 58%2,169$140,274$754,300$363 cheaper homes ($530K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75205 58%1,208$181,631$1,706,700$693 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($423K more) · smaller
Rockville, MD 20850 57%2,266$125,950$714,400$331 cheaper homes ($569K less) · older residents · older homes
Houston, TX 77019 57%1,336$116,423$816,500$298 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($467K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30319 56%1,908$130,648$762,500$301 cheaper homes ($521K less) · more homeowners · older homes

* 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.