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 20165

Sterling: median income $183,076, home value $704,800, $295/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ellicott City, MD 21043 88%35$148,125$620,900$272 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($84K less)
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 84%177$153,556$547,700$340 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($157K less)
Newtown, PA 18940 84%154$157,414$655,000$316 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Malvern, PA 19355 84%121$169,417$692,300$315 Very close on everything we compare
Alpharetta, GA 30005 83%512$176,957$636,300$236 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more single-family homes
Frederick, MD 21704 82%21$161,063$612,000$227 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · newer homes
Laurel, MD 20723 81%30$138,113$525,400$255 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($179K less)
Alpharetta, GA 30004 81%513$156,100$657,700$249 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55446 81%922$170,625$583,500$210 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Franklin, MA 02038 80%378$145,773$611,700$343 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($93K less) · more single-family homes
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 80%188$192,857$799,900$439 pricier homes ($95K more) · older residents
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 80%181$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($114K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Wexford, PA 15090 80%179$160,576$476,400$243 cheaper homes ($228K less) · more single-family homes
Gambrills, MD 21054 80%38$163,825$611,000$251 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Crofton, MD 21114 80%38$141,344$490,400$260 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($214K less) · 5 min longer commute
Aurora, IL 60502 80%602$156,904$412,300$225 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($293K less)
Austin, TX 78732 80%1,306$192,500$853,900$276 pricier homes ($149K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Broomfield, CO 80023 80%1,468$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($164K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Blue Bell, PA 19422 79%136$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · more walkable
North Andover, MA 01845 78%413$140,670$732,900$367 lower income ($42K less) · pricier homes ($28K more) · older homes
Downingtown, PA 19335 78%111$143,249$494,100$234 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($211K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33626 78%817$127,118$577,100$289 lower income ($56K less) · cheaper homes ($128K less)
New Albany, OH 43054 78%297$148,100$510,600$234 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($194K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Naperville, IL 60540 78%596$157,102$550,600$292 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($154K less) · more single-family homes
Cary, NC 27519 77%239$165,586$670,900$267 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.