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 98122

Seattle: median income $106,886, home value $957,100, $551/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Austin, TX 78704 92%1,769$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Los Angeles, CA 90025 90%959$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($123K more) · older homes
Irvine, CA 92612 89%992$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($37K more)
Arlington, VA 22203 85%2,318$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92122 85%1,054$105,177$1,046,300$742 pricier homes ($89K more) · less walkable
Emeryville, CA 94608 85%675$120,239$849,600$508 cheaper homes ($108K less) · older homes
Washington, DC 20001 83%2,321$138,059$852,600$552 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($105K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33606 81%2,525$120,729$845,600$551 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75206 81%1,677$91,023$615,400$363 cheaper homes ($342K less)
Irvine, CA 92614 81%990$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($120K more) · less walkable
Arlington, VA 22202 80%2,321$133,762$899,000$453 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Houston, TX 77027 80%1,886$103,812$859,500$362 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · newer homes
San Jose, CA 95126 80%711$128,983$1,214,300$744 pricier homes ($257K more)
San Diego, CA 92103 79%1,062$102,626$1,061,200$755 pricier homes ($104K more) · older residents · older homes
San Diego, CA 92110 79%1,060$110,790$1,006,800$631 pricier homes ($50K more) · older homes
Arlington, VA 22209 78%2,319$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Cambridge, MA 02141 77%2,483$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Arlington, VA 22201 77%2,318$145,000$781,600$625 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($176K less)
Charlotte, NC 28203 77%2,280$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($249K less) · smaller · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33602 77%2,524$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($304K less) · smaller · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92108 77%1,060$103,884$618,700$563 cheaper homes ($338K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Irvine, CA 92606 77%989$135,598$1,141,100$788 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($184K more) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92104 76%1,062$94,014$914,700$761 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older homes
Denver, CO 80202 75%1,018$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($234K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80205 75%1,019$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($308K less) · older homes

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.