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 Centreville, VA 20121

Centreville: median income $129,947, home value $520,200, $320/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Germantown, MD 20874 89%24$115,022$399,000$263 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Laurel, MD 20724 86%39$118,115$426,100$266 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Germantown, MD 20876 85%28$119,731$487,300$264 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more single-family homes
Elkridge, MD 21075 85%46$135,303$455,300$246 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more single-family homes
Odenton, MD 21113 85%44$125,639$432,000$240 cheaper homes ($88K less) · less walkable
Gaithersburg, MD 20879 81%28$112,104$468,100$255 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more single-family homes
Laurel, MD 20723 80%39$138,113$525,400$255 more single-family homes
Secaucus, NJ 07094 79%226$139,821$571,900$352 pricier homes ($52K more) · more renters
Columbia, MD 21044 79%41$135,057$566,500$250 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Columbia, MD 21046 79%40$127,813$479,500$252 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Frederick, MD 21701 78%44$106,577$435,000$230 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · more single-family homes
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 77%194$121,071$433,800$319 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · more renters
Laurel, MD 20707 77%37$107,706$423,400$250 cheaper homes ($97K less) · more renters
Montgomery Village, MD 20886 77%29$98,542$386,500$236 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($134K less)
Hanover, MD 21076 77%46$146,869$513,300$241 more single-family homes · newer homes
Frederick, MD 21703 77%38$106,334$384,600$221 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Burtonsville, MD 20866 76%34$140,308$446,900$241 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Royersford, PA 19468 75%140$108,534$402,800$246 cheaper homes ($117K less) · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33180 75%902$91,055$501,000$330 lower income ($39K less) · older residents
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 74%174$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Franklin Park, NJ 08823 74%192$115,597$298,800$315 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller · less walkable
Columbia, MD 21045 74%43$118,563$453,700$255 cheaper homes ($67K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 73%189$133,209$523,000$331 smaller · more single-family homes · less walkable
Ellicott City, MD 21043 73%46$148,125$620,900$272 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 73%894$117,373$573,800$350 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents · 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.