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 Manassas, VA 20111

Manassas: median income $113,879, home value $476,000, $258/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Frederick, MD 21702 89%50$106,983$426,300$223 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98374 89%2,305$112,662$535,300$284 pricier homes ($59K more) · more single-family homes
Waldorf, MD 20602 88%33$107,360$376,800$218 cheaper homes ($99K less) · less walkable
Miami, FL 33196 88%922$94,961$489,600$328 older residents
Beltsville, MD 20705 87%34$110,351$446,700$237 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Thornton, CO 80241 87%1,467$110,218$542,100$234 pricier homes ($66K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Federal Way, WA 98023 86%2,309$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($114K more)
Auburn, WA 98092 86%2,297$122,300$635,900$324 pricier homes ($160K more)
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 85%881$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($101K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Wildomar, CA 92595 85%2,231$106,047$562,000$287 pricier homes ($86K more)
Puyallup, WA 98373 85%2,308$103,796$565,700$280 pricier homes ($90K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33325 84%891$100,553$455,000$348 5 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33625 84%795$93,133$380,800$249 cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Temecula, CA 92591 84%2,226$114,160$690,600$359 pricier homes ($215K more) · more single-family homes
Milford, MA 01757 83%389$96,621$478,100$298 older homes
Bridgewater, MA 02324 83%406$112,726$533,600$318 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents
Glen Burnie, MD 21060 83%54$104,715$377,100$229 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Brighton, CO 80601 83%1,457$105,417$497,700$214 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Canyon Country, CA 91387 83%2,274$117,969$756,600$408 pricier homes ($281K more)
Forest Grove, OR 97116 83%2,355$92,613$495,800$262 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Lanham, MD 20706 82%35$104,523$429,000$242 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 82%35$128,259$455,300$204 older residents
Frederick, MD 21703 82%41$106,334$384,600$221 cheaper homes ($91K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 82%780$104,573$434,900$202 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Murrieta, CA 92562 82%2,233$114,266$663,600$318 pricier homes ($188K more) · larger · 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.