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 Plainsboro, NJ 08536

Plainsboro: median income $137,607, home value $704,100, $404/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfax, VA 22031 89%176$134,577$723,600$356 larger
Mc Lean, VA 22102 87%171$153,949$955,500$417 pricier homes ($251K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Rockville, MD 20852 86%162$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Bethesda, MD 20814 80%163$150,996$989,600$425 pricier homes ($286K more) · larger · more walkable
Atlanta, GA 30342 80%700$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Walnut Creek, CA 94597 79%2,521$132,063$1,026,800$597 pricier homes ($323K more)
Rockville, MD 20850 78%163$125,950$714,400$331 larger · older residents
Reston, VA 20190 76%175$134,746$581,400$402 cheaper homes ($123K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Atlanta, GA 30305 76%702$106,907$737,500$391 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($33K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30319 76%699$130,648$762,500$301 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Herndon, VA 20171 75%179$171,372$797,200$331 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Silver Spring, MD 20910 75%160$112,134$730,900$364 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Fairfax, VA 22030 75%179$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more homeowners
Fairfax, VA 22033 75%181$143,454$648,800$355 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 75%2,520$135,635$1,277,800$653 pricier homes ($574K more)
Alexandria, VA 22303 73%171$103,656$552,800$386 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($151K less)
Exton, PA 19341 72%60$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($195K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Columbia, MD 21044 72%145$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger · more homeowners
Falls Church, VA 22043 72%171$145,881$881,600$456 pricier homes ($178K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Arlington, VA 22203 72%169$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($123K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Alexandria, VA 22302 72%170$123,539$631,100$441 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30307 71%703$140,677$727,200$357 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98107 71%2,390$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($249K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Charlotte, NC 28211 70%493$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Decatur, GA 30030 70%702$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.