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 98107

Seattle: median income $142,662, home value $953,400, $553/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, VA 22203 92%2,321$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Arlington, VA 22201 89%2,322$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Washington, DC 20001 86%2,324$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22314 85%2,326$148,451$899,000$624 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Washington, DC 20003 83%2,327$159,846$957,700$625 more apartments and townhomes
Mc Lean, VA 22102 81%2,313$153,949$955,500$417 less walkable
Tampa, FL 33606 81%2,530$120,729$845,600$551 cheaper homes ($108K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Arlington, VA 22202 80%2,324$133,762$899,000$453 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more renters
Orlando, FL 32814 78%2,550$140,274$754,300$363 cheaper homes ($199K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 78%2,720$124,812$884,800$542 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents
Chicago, IL 60642 78%1,733$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($360K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Irvine, CA 92606 78%994$135,598$1,141,100$788 pricier homes ($188K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Irvine, CA 92614 78%995$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($123K more) · less walkable
Irvine, CA 92618 78%995$145,731$1,283,800$723 pricier homes ($330K more) · larger · newer homes
Bethesda, MD 20814 77%2,317$150,996$989,600$425 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22209 76%2,322$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Houston, TX 77019 76%1,892$116,423$816,500$298 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($137K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Austin, TX 78704 76%1,774$106,897$916,100$507 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Emeryville, CA 94608 76%679$120,239$849,600$508 cheaper homes ($104K less) · older homes
Rockville, MD 20852 75%2,315$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger · less walkable
Fairfax, VA 22031 75%2,315$134,577$723,600$356 cheaper homes ($230K less) · less walkable · older homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 74%675$135,635$1,277,800$653 pricier homes ($324K more) · less walkable · older homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94597 74%674$132,063$1,026,800$597 pricier homes ($73K more) · less walkable · older homes
Miami, FL 33131 73%2,735$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($298K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 73%968$146,167$1,272,200$834 pricier homes ($319K more) · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes

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.