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 98119

Seattle: median income $123,551, home value $1,047,600, $594/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Emeryville, CA 94608 91%677$120,239$849,600$508 cheaper homes ($198K less)
Denver, CO 80206 86%1,024$101,594$915,400$427 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Alexandria, VA 22305 85%2,324$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80209 85%1,024$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more single-family homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 85%961$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · more renters
West Hollywood, CA 90069 85%959$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
San Diego, CA 92103 85%1,064$102,626$1,061,200$755 older residents
San Diego, CA 92110 83%1,063$110,790$1,006,800$631 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Denver, CO 80211 82%1,019$121,439$807,100$442 cheaper homes ($241K less) · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92109 82%1,060$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 pricier homes ($179K more) · larger
Pasadena, CA 91106 81%958$90,028$1,040,400$734 lower income ($34K less)
North Hollywood, CA 91602 81%955$102,914$1,055,900$636 Very close on everything we compare
Irvine, CA 92614 81%993$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($29K more) · less walkable · newer homes
San Jose, CA 95126 81%713$128,983$1,214,300$744 pricier homes ($167K more) · newer homes
Waltham, MA 02453 80%2,479$115,366$705,100$473 cheaper homes ($343K less) · older homes
Denver, CO 80205 80%1,022$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($398K less)
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 80%967$134,313$997,600$700 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · older residents
Washington, DC 20001 79%2,324$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Miami Beach, FL 33140 79%2,733$107,063$866,900$623 cheaper homes ($181K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78704 79%1,772$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90035 79%961$105,013$1,908,900$800 pricier homes ($861K more)
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 79%673$135,635$1,277,800$653 pricier homes ($230K more) · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Oakland, CA 94610 78%679$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($332K more) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Cambridge, MA 02141 77%2,485$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · more renters
Arlington, VA 22204 77%2,322$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($360K less) · larger · less walkable

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.