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 Secaucus, NJ 07094

Secaucus: median income $139,821, home value $571,900, $352/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfax, VA 22031 90%216$134,577$723,600$356 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger
Rockville, MD 20852 87%202$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22303 87%212$103,656$552,800$386 lower income ($36K less)
Fairfax, VA 22033 86%220$143,454$648,800$355 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · more homeowners
Rockville, MD 20850 85%202$125,950$714,400$331 pricier homes ($143K more) · larger · newer homes
Columbia, MD 21044 85%185$135,057$566,500$250 larger
Conshohocken, PA 19428 84%82$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($93K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22302 84%210$123,539$631,100$441 pricier homes ($59K more) · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22312 84%213$109,272$604,200$325 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($32K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Reston, VA 20190 82%215$134,746$581,400$402 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Reston, VA 20191 81%217$151,185$641,800$350 pricier homes ($70K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Centreville, VA 20121 79%226$129,947$520,200$320 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more homeowners
Fairfax, VA 22030 78%219$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94597 78%2,540$132,063$1,026,800$597 pricier homes ($455K more)
Exton, PA 19341 77%98$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 77%84$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($143K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Arlington, VA 22206 77%210$140,877$586,000$431 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22304 77%212$101,600$508,200$320 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Naperville, IL 60563 76%735$109,783$435,600$271 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger
Laurel, MD 20707 75%189$107,706$423,400$250 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger
Silver Spring, MD 20910 75%200$112,134$730,900$364 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($159K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22315 75%216$159,805$618,100$346 pricier homes ($46K more) · more homeowners
Elmsford, NY 10523 74%23$118,438$588,100$449 smaller · older homes
Nyack, NY 10960 74%22$125,789$681,000$440 pricier homes ($109K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Washington, DC 20017 74%201$106,300$702,600$370 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($131K more) · 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.