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 North Andover, MA 01845

North Andover: median income $140,670, home value $732,900, $367/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kenmore, WA 98028 92%2,468$139,764$920,800$474 pricier homes ($188K more)
Alexandria, VA 22310 91%414$166,061$659,700$355 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($73K less)
Annapolis, MD 21403 90%381$123,329$582,500$366 cheaper homes ($150K less) · older residents
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 89%215$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · older residents
West Chester, PA 19382 88%300$132,091$568,500$282 cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Derwood, MD 20855 88%399$149,110$640,300$297 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Morristown, NJ 07960 87%218$160,334$735,600$476 Very close on everything we compare
Media, PA 19063 87%293$127,368$548,900$303 cheaper homes ($184K less) · older residents
Centreville, VA 20120 87%425$152,563$648,700$317 cheaper homes ($84K less) · newer homes
Herndon, VA 20170 87%415$159,466$647,200$326 cheaper homes ($86K less) · more walkable
Lorton, VA 22079 87%422$148,134$637,600$316 cheaper homes ($95K less) · newer homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 87%1,259$117,373$573,800$350 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Denver, CO 80228 87%1,770$113,977$641,300$291 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($92K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Ambler, PA 19002 86%274$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($131K less) · older residents
Chantilly, VA 20151 86%423$158,271$676,800$317 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 86%404$144,313$715,800$302 larger
Annandale, VA 22003 86%416$138,794$732,400$338 larger
Springfield, VA 22152 86%419$165,906$648,200$327 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · more homeowners
Golden, CO 80401 86%1,771$118,039$804,500$350 pricier homes ($72K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Valencia, CA 91355 86%2,592$115,640$806,200$472 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($73K more)
Mukilteo, WA 98275 86%2,468$132,861$884,900$418 pricier homes ($152K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Caldwell, NJ 07006 85%206$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older homes
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 85%231$143,586$522,700$357 cheaper homes ($210K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Somerville, NJ 08876 85%235$122,884$485,100$359 cheaper homes ($248K less)
Burke, VA 22015 85%420$172,563$696,500$346 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($36K less) · 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.