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 98121

Seattle: median income $152,019, home value $848,400, $575/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33131 89%2,732$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($193K less) · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80202 87%1,020$114,151$722,700$467 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($126K less)
Washington, DC 20003 83%2,325$159,846$957,700$625 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22203 80%2,320$140,135$826,800$511 7 min longer commute · older homes
Chicago, IL 60601 78%1,734$121,458$526,200$494 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($322K less) · 7 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60654 77%1,733$147,357$500,400$404 cheaper homes ($348K less)
Dallas, TX 75201 77%1,680$103,761$688,100$614 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($160K less) · more renters
Washington, DC 20001 76%2,323$138,059$852,600$552 larger · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Chicago, IL 60642 76%1,732$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($255K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Arlington, VA 22201 75%2,320$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22209 75%2,321$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22202 74%2,323$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($51K more) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55415 74%1,392$124,921$625,500$406 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($223K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60607 73%1,732$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($349K less) · larger · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78701 73%1,770$162,168$722,400$705 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28203 71%2,282$104,696$707,800$459 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77027 70%1,888$103,812$859,500$362 lower income ($48K less)
Cambridge, MA 02141 69%2,485$126,522$868,100$842 lower income ($25K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Orlando, FL 32814 69%2,548$140,274$754,300$363 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33132 69%2,732$109,109$524,300$550 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($324K less)
Houston, TX 77098 67%1,890$116,650$787,300$293 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($61K less) · more single-family homes
Playa Vista, CA 90094 67%964$145,744$1,356,000$885 pricier homes ($508K more) · smaller · 11 min longer commute
San Jose, CA 95113 67%711$151,685$956,500$714 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 66%2,718$124,812$884,800$542 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Chicago, IL 60611 66%1,733$125,675$650,800$394 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger

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.