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 Sterling, VA 20164

Sterling: median income $135,660, home value $544,300, $320/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Piscataway, NJ 08854 88%188$127,806$449,900$367 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Smithfield, RI 02917 87%367$110,938$451,800$281 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Anchorage, AK 99502 87%3,345$116,071$418,300$273 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Suffern, NY 10901 86%226$108,041$542,000$370 lower income ($28K less) · smaller
Severn, MD 21144 86%38$136,684$483,700$239 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Anchorage, AK 99515 86%3,343$113,995$427,500$269 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
North Billerica, MA 01862 85%403$138,571$586,200$367 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older residents
Freehold, NJ 07728 85%186$114,072$505,400$342 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Littleton, CO 80128 85%1,475$121,436$586,000$269 pricier homes ($42K more)
Mesa, AZ 85213 85%1,942$103,969$438,900$270 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($105K less)
Hillsboro, OR 97123 85%2,340$109,985$538,500$298 lower income ($26K less) · newer homes
Dracut, MA 01826 84%406$114,196$473,800$353 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328 84%911$126,380$578,300$357 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Bremerton, WA 98311 84%2,315$108,757$471,800$299 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Methuen, MA 01844 83%413$113,212$499,800$341 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Derry, NH 03038 83%415$108,322$430,500$315 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($114K less) · 5 min longer commute
Perkasie, PA 18944 83%147$130,997$426,100$248 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller · older residents
Oregon City, OR 97045 83%2,322$103,573$587,700$313 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($43K more) · more single-family homes
Renton, WA 98058 83%2,291$115,201$676,000$385 pricier homes ($132K more) · 6 min longer commute
Haverhill, MA 01835 82%418$113,578$468,800$311 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Bridgewater, MA 02324 82%394$112,726$533,600$318 smaller · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Hooksett, NH 03106 82%417$118,442$408,400$273 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · older residents
Eagle River, AK 99577 82%3,328$136,900$437,000$262 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Abington, MA 02351 81%400$125,400$539,600$350 smaller · 8 min longer commute · older homes
Cumberland, RI 02864 81%374$117,522$431,000$281 cheaper homes ($113K less) · 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.