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 Princeton, NJ 08540

Princeton: median income $176,983, home value $767,900, $431/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Malvern, PA 19355 86%52$169,417$692,300$315 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Herndon, VA 20171 86%177$171,372$797,200$331 pricier homes ($29K more)
Wayne, PA 19087 84%45$171,179$748,200$364 smaller · older homes
Issaquah, WA 98027 83%2,370$153,301$996,600$507 pricier homes ($229K more) · smaller
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 82%164$144,313$715,800$302 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($52K less)
Vienna, VA 22182 82%171$205,108$1,125,900$390 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($358K more) · smaller
Issaquah, WA 98029 82%2,369$170,759$1,063,200$525 pricier homes ($295K more) · smaller · newer homes
Reston, VA 20194 81%173$170,988$827,100$377 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22043 81%169$145,881$881,600$456 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller
Vienna, VA 22180 81%172$177,111$941,400$423 pricier homes ($174K more) · smaller · more walkable
Alexandria, VA 22310 79%172$166,061$659,700$355 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Louisville, CO 80027 79%1,603$154,232$890,200$358 pricier homes ($122K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Englewood, CO 80111 79%1,594$135,995$916,500$314 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($149K more) · smaller
Natick, MA 01760 78%216$138,563$821,300$454 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($53K more) · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22046 78%169$168,882$1,014,700$476 pricier homes ($247K more) · smaller · more walkable
Westborough, MA 01581 77%205$141,944$685,300$394 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Bedford, MA 01730 77%228$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($131K more) · smaller
Andover, MA 01810 77%240$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($88K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Blue Bell, PA 19422 77%37$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($156K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Naperville, IL 60540 77%709$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($217K less) · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77024 77%1,384$136,149$1,127,500$414 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($360K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Ashburn, VA 20147 76%177$163,904$718,500$311 cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Sterling, VA 20165 76%172$183,076$704,800$295 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28211 76%492$132,917$774,900$360 lower income ($44K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Alpharetta, GA 30005 76%683$176,957$636,300$236 cheaper homes ($132K less) · more single-family 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.