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 Chantilly, VA 20151

Chantilly: median income $158,271, home value $676,800, $317/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olney, MD 20832 94%27$168,524$627,000$290 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Franklin, MA 02038 90%387$145,773$611,700$343 cheaper homes ($65K less) · less walkable
West Linn, OR 97068 90%2,328$151,729$796,400$329 pricier homes ($120K more) · more single-family homes
Blue Bell, PA 19422 89%145$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 89%884$131,216$745,700$351 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($69K more)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 88%190$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · less walkable
Chalfont, PA 18914 88%153$148,824$491,300$272 cheaper homes ($186K less)
Newtown, PA 18940 88%163$157,414$655,000$316 Very close on everything we compare
Newtown Square, PA 19073 88%133$134,839$610,300$279 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Derwood, MD 20855 88%23$149,110$640,300$297 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 7 min longer commute
Naperville, IL 60540 88%597$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97007 88%2,338$123,533$608,800$288 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Ambler, PA 19002 87%149$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older homes
Malvern, PA 19355 87%130$169,417$692,300$315 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 87%143$147,418$537,400$279 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28270 87%317$131,667$589,500$271 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($87K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328 87%901$126,380$578,300$357 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($99K less)
Littleton, CO 80122 87%1,467$128,691$634,400$256 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($42K less)
Littleton, CO 80129 87%1,471$141,667$663,800$266 more renters
Mukilteo, WA 98275 87%2,301$132,861$884,900$418 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($208K more)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 86%381$139,302$592,300$353 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
North Andover, MA 01845 86%423$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($56K more)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 86%368$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older homes
Randolph, NJ 07869 86%204$169,497$665,700$351 Very close on everything we compare
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 86%207$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($87K less) · older 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.