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 Seattle, WA 98101

Seattle: median income $128,882, home value $784,200, $657/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75201 92%1,679$103,761$688,100$614 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($96K less)
Denver, CO 80202 90%1,019$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Arlington, VA 22209 79%2,320$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($36K more) · more homeowners · older homes
Miami, FL 33131 79%2,732$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($129K less) · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60601 79%1,733$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($258K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Cambridge, MA 02141 78%2,484$126,522$868,100$842 pricier homes ($84K more) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Stamford, CT 06901 78%2,412$102,641$478,700$463 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($306K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22203 78%2,319$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33132 78%2,731$109,109$524,300$550 cheaper homes ($260K less) · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90010 77%959$101,455$834,100$601 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Santa Monica, CA 90401 77%960$110,385$1,149,200$1,151 pricier homes ($365K more) · smaller
Irvine, CA 92612 76%992$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($210K more) · larger · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22202 75%2,322$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20001 73%2,322$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
San Francisco, CA 94103 73%680$116,438$1,022,800$857 pricier homes ($239K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95113 73%711$151,685$956,500$714 pricier homes ($172K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33602 72%2,526$97,320$653,100$431 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($131K less) · more homeowners
San Diego, CA 92101 72%1,064$91,566$793,100$693 lower income ($37K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92108 72%1,060$103,884$618,700$563 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · more homeowners
New York, NY 10018 71%2,401$145,958$1,044,800$1,183 pricier homes ($261K more) · smaller · less walkable
Chicago, IL 60642 71%1,731$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($191K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20003 70%2,325$159,846$957,700$625 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($174K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22201 70%2,320$145,000$781,600$625 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28203 70%2,281$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($76K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55415 70%1,392$124,921$625,500$406 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller · more homeowners

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.