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 98199

Seattle: median income $180,789, home value $1,198,700, $629/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Needham Heights, MA 02494 90%2,482$179,720$1,107,700$530 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22046 88%2,319$168,882$1,014,700$476 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Oakland, CA 94611 87%677$180,549$1,537,700$751 pricier homes ($339K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Madison, NJ 07940 86%2,384$172,708$940,900$609 cheaper homes ($258K less) · less walkable
Auburndale, MA 02466 85%2,480$170,089$1,174,000$561 smaller
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 85%2,320$194,971$1,294,200$480 pricier homes ($96K more) · older residents
Vienna, VA 22180 85%2,315$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($257K less) · newer homes
Summit, NJ 07901 84%2,388$179,701$987,900$715 cheaper homes ($211K less) · 7 min longer commute
West Newton, MA 02465 83%2,481$194,265$1,159,200$619 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20016 82%2,321$178,920$1,216,000$565 more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22301 81%2,327$194,819$1,027,900$616 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Albany, CA 94706 81%674$143,398$1,203,500$836 lower income ($37K less) · 5 min longer commute
Belmont, MA 02478 80%2,481$183,137$1,159,000$601 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Arlington, VA 22205 78%2,321$201,094$1,092,800$542 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 78%975$160,236$1,242,700$783 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94618 78%678$201,780$1,753,100$855 pricier homes ($554K more) · older homes
Arlington, VA 22213 77%2,319$199,306$1,064,500$507 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller
Pasadena, CA 91105 77%959$156,791$1,671,000$841 pricier homes ($472K more) · smaller · older residents
Newtonville, MA 02460 76%2,481$177,837$1,224,600$588 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33156 76%2,735$137,076$1,120,100$619 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($79K less) · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33629 76%2,529$164,355$851,400$493 cheaper homes ($347K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Denver, CO 80210 76%1,027$127,270$910,200$437 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($289K less) · larger
Sierra Madre, CA 91024 76%958$143,547$1,226,800$764 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92106 76%1,066$142,897$1,515,200$973 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($317K more)
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 76%673$186,225$1,339,900$665 pricier homes ($141K more) · older residents · more homeowners

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.