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.

Reset

Towns most like Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852

Monmouth Junction: median income $133,209, home value $523,000, $331/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crofton, MD 21114 86%148$141,344$490,400$260 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more homeowners
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 84%707$124,468$416,700$241 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Ashland, MA 01721 83%206$127,539$611,700$353 pricier homes ($89K more) · more single-family homes
Laurel, MD 20723 83%150$138,113$525,400$255 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Ellicott City, MD 21043 83%142$148,125$620,900$272 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Westborough, MA 01581 82%200$141,944$685,300$394 pricier homes ($162K more) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 81%1,041$117,373$573,800$350 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33626 81%968$127,118$577,100$289 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Alpharetta, GA 30009 79%690$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($118K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more walkable
Elkridge, MD 21075 78%142$135,303$455,300$246 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Odenton, MD 21113 78%146$125,639$432,000$240 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Lorton, VA 22079 78%183$148,134$637,600$316 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · more walkable
North Andover, MA 01845 77%239$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($210K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Glen Mills, PA 19342 77%60$132,688$594,000$276 pricier homes ($71K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Ashburn, VA 20147 76%181$163,904$718,500$311 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($196K more) · larger
Canton, MA 02021 75%216$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($188K more) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Sterling, VA 20165 75%177$183,076$704,800$295 higher income ($50K more) · pricier homes ($182K more) · larger
Columbia, MD 21044 75%148$135,057$566,500$250 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more walkable
Mansfield, MA 02048 74%207$125,273$603,500$353 pricier homes ($81K more) · more single-family homes
Exton, PA 19341 74%62$121,680$509,300$249 8 min shorter commute · more renters · more walkable
Fairfax, VA 22033 74%183$143,454$648,800$355 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Woodbridge, VA 22192 74%189$127,177$486,400$257 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Naperville, IL 60563 74%715$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Franklin, MA 02038 73%202$145,773$611,700$343 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · more homeowners
Exeter, NH 03833 73%258$119,393$480,500$354 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents · 8 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.