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 98112

Seattle: median income $171,572, home value $1,549,100, $681/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newtonville, MA 02460 89%2,477$177,837$1,224,600$588 cheaper homes ($325K less) · smaller
Belmont, MA 02478 87%2,477$183,137$1,159,000$601 cheaper homes ($390K less) · 5 min longer commute
West Newton, MA 02465 85%2,476$194,265$1,159,200$619 cheaper homes ($390K less) · smaller
Auburndale, MA 02466 84%2,475$170,089$1,174,000$561 cheaper homes ($375K less) · smaller
Washington, DC 20016 84%2,317$178,920$1,216,000$565 cheaper homes ($333K less)
Oakland, CA 94618 83%676$201,780$1,753,100$855 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($204K more) · 7 min longer commute
Berkeley, CA 94705 83%675$167,970$1,992,800$899 pricier homes ($444K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Albany, CA 94706 83%673$143,398$1,203,500$836 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($346K less) · 7 min longer commute
Newton, MA 02458 81%2,478$153,520$1,136,100$544 cheaper homes ($413K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22301 80%2,322$194,819$1,027,900$616 cheaper homes ($521K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Oakland, CA 94611 78%676$180,549$1,537,700$751 larger · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Pasadena, CA 91105 76%957$156,791$1,671,000$841 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller · older residents
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 74%2,315$194,971$1,294,200$480 cheaper homes ($255K less) · older residents · newer homes
Arlington, MA 02474 72%2,477$150,560$933,200$598 cheaper homes ($616K less) · 8 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Arlington, MA 02476 72%2,477$151,131$934,800$609 cheaper homes ($614K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90064 72%961$135,383$1,765,300$997 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($216K more) · newer homes
Greenwich, CT 06830 71%2,407$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($112K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90049 70%958$170,607$2M+*$991 pricier homes ($451K more) · larger · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92106 70%1,063$142,897$1,515,200$973 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Newton Highlands, MA 02461 69%2,478$224,000$1,255,400$684 higher income ($52K more) · cheaper homes ($294K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22046 69%2,314$168,882$1,014,700$476 cheaper homes ($534K less) · newer homes
South Pasadena, CA 91030 69%958$127,175$1,640,000$947 lower income ($44K less) · pricier homes ($91K more) · 6 min longer commute
Needham Heights, MA 02494 68%2,478$179,720$1,107,700$530 cheaper homes ($441K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Summit, NJ 07901 68%2,384$179,701$987,900$715 cheaper homes ($561K less) · 9 min longer commute · less walkable
Washington, DC 20015 68%2,316$250,000+*$1,245,600$557 higher income ($78K more) · cheaper homes ($304K less) · smaller

* 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.