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 98117

Seattle: median income $182,984, home value $1,043,500, $564/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, VA 22205 91%2,320$201,094$1,092,800$542 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Milton, MA 02186 86%2,489$188,033$933,200$547 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
West Newton, MA 02465 85%2,479$194,265$1,159,200$619 pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller · older homes
Kensington, MD 20895 85%2,317$173,625$781,500$396 cheaper homes ($262K less) · smaller
Summit, NJ 07901 83%2,387$179,701$987,900$715 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Winchester, MA 01890 82%2,480$230,198$1,215,200$534 higher income ($47K more) · pricier homes ($172K more) · smaller
Needham Heights, MA 02494 80%2,481$179,720$1,107,700$530 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · newer homes
Ridgewood, NJ 07450 80%2,390$208,211$891,200$658 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($152K less) · 7 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22207 80%2,320$245,745$1,257,900$511 higher income ($63K more) · pricier homes ($214K more)
West Roxbury, MA 02132 78%2,484$138,724$746,100$505 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($297K less)
Newton Center, MA 02459 78%2,482$227,594$1,450,900$586 higher income ($45K more) · pricier homes ($407K more) · smaller
Madison, NJ 07940 78%2,383$172,708$940,900$609 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · less walkable
Haddonfield, NJ 08033 78%2,382$151,181$635,300$384 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($408K less) · smaller
Eastchester, NY 10709 78%2,405$170,417$847,900$497 cheaper homes ($196K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Bethesda, MD 20816 78%2,318$232,656$1,217,200$495 higher income ($50K more) · pricier homes ($174K more) · smaller
Belmont, MA 02478 77%2,480$183,137$1,159,000$601 pricier homes ($116K more) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Wynnewood, PA 19096 77%2,368$186,277$713,100$339 cheaper homes ($330K less) · smaller
Vienna, VA 22180 77%2,314$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($102K less) · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33629 77%2,529$164,355$851,400$493 cheaper homes ($192K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Marblehead, MA 01945 76%2,491$179,583$942,200$536 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · older residents
New Providence, NJ 07974 76%2,385$172,894$758,400$549 cheaper homes ($285K less) · smaller · older residents
Wilmette, IL 60091 76%1,725$189,909$807,200$457 cheaper homes ($236K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Oakland, CA 94611 76%680$180,549$1,537,700$751 pricier homes ($494K more)
Newton Highlands, MA 02461 75%2,481$224,000$1,255,400$684 higher income ($41K more) · pricier homes ($212K more) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95819 75%632$136,306$753,500$554 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($290K less) · smaller

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.