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 Seattle, WA 98102

Seattle: median income $114,925, home value $963,200, $617/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Los Angeles, CA 90025 94%960$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger
Cambridge, MA 02141 88%2,483$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Emeryville, CA 94608 88%677$120,239$849,600$508 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Washington, DC 20001 86%2,322$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22209 86%2,320$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · newer homes
Washington, DC 20005 85%2,321$116,724$640,600$605 cheaper homes ($323K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22202 83%2,322$133,762$899,000$453 cheaper homes ($64K less) · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22203 82%2,319$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($136K less) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20037 81%2,321$111,153$685,300$639 cheaper homes ($278K less) · smaller
West Hollywood, CA 90069 81%958$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($112K more) · older residents
New York, NY 10038 80%2,402$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Philadelphia, PA 19103 79%2,372$99,644$582,500$477 cheaper homes ($381K less) · older homes
San Diego, CA 92103 79%1,063$102,626$1,061,200$755 pricier homes ($98K more) · older residents
Arlington, VA 22201 78%2,319$145,000$781,600$625 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($182K less) · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90034 78%962$105,701$1,516,600$909 pricier homes ($553K more) · larger
Irvine, CA 92612 78%993$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($31K more) · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22305 77%2,322$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · older homes
San Diego, CA 92109 77%1,059$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 pricier homes ($264K more) · larger
Boston, MA 02114 76%2,484$132,210$924,400$1,148 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78704 76%1,770$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80206 76%1,022$101,594$915,400$427 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more homeowners
Santa Monica, CA 90404 76%961$95,139$1,244,400$819 pricier homes ($281K more) · older residents
Cambridge, MA 02140 75%2,480$135,286$1,149,800$931 pricier homes ($187K more) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
San Diego, CA 92122 75%1,055$105,177$1,046,300$742 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20008 74%2,319$125,212$965,100$596 older residents · 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.