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 Purcellville, VA 20132

Purcellville: median income $181,875, home value $776,300, $274/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Windham, NH 03087 95%420$189,583$723,300$322 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Jamison, PA 18929 94%160$179,380$627,700$274 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller
Littleton, CO 80125 94%1,455$179,983$762,200$231 Very close on everything we compare
Doylestown, PA 18902 90%163$161,267$668,200$301 cheaper homes ($108K less) · older residents
Ijamsville, MD 21754 90%27$182,188$647,300$236 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller
Victoria, MN 55386 90%906$192,458$565,900$206 cheaper homes ($210K less) · smaller
Saint Charles, IL 60175 90%592$181,352$519,700$221 cheaper homes ($257K less)
Dripping Springs, TX 78620 90%1,307$153,477$676,500$239 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($100K less)
Austin, TX 78737 90%1,299$168,920$765,000$270 6 min shorter commute
Groton, MA 01450 89%402$193,292$743,400$325 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Norfolk, MA 02056 89%394$200,720$725,200$344 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · older homes
Monument, CO 80132 89%1,448$161,670$773,100$225 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Chesterfield, NJ 08515 88%178$208,836$560,000$253 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($216K less) · smaller
Marriottsville, MD 21104 88%46$191,804$680,200$243 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
New Market, MD 21774 88%31$171,103$541,000$241 cheaper homes ($235K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 88%917$172,730$909,000$395 pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller
Odessa, FL 33556 88%809$149,722$625,200$266 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger
Nolensville, TN 37135 88%538$148,819$672,600$283 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($104K less) · newer homes
Alpine, UT 84004 88%1,798$170,500$980,300$289 pricier homes ($204K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Morganville, NJ 07751 87%202$181,205$715,600$381 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 5 min longer commute
Bowie, MD 20720 86%52$158,997$564,600$216 cheaper homes ($212K less)
Gaithersburg, MD 20882 86%32$184,136$737,400$241 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · older homes
Novi, MI 48374 86%380$182,827$577,700$222 cheaper homes ($199K less)
Plano, TX 75094 86%1,134$171,476$539,200$193 cheaper homes ($237K less)
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 86%2,307$165,467$916,000$369 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger · older residents

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.