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 Herndon, VA 20170

Herndon: median income $159,466, home value $647,200, $326/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Andover, MA 01845 87%415$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($86K more) · less walkable
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 83%11$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · older residents
Lafayette, CO 80026 83%1,474$120,187$705,600$310 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($58K more)
Seattle, WA 98106 83%2,305$124,212$706,600$448 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 82%164$125,514$428,000$294 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($219K less)
Phoenixville, PA 19460 82%126$124,050$455,900$251 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($191K less)
Wayne, NJ 07470 81%214$153,056$612,700$382 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents · older homes
West Chester, PA 19382 81%116$132,091$568,500$282 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($79K less) · older residents
Laurel, MD 20723 81%30$138,113$525,400$255 cheaper homes ($122K less) · less walkable
Littleton, CO 80129 81%1,474$141,667$663,800$266 older residents · newer homes
Beaverton, OR 97007 81%2,338$123,533$608,800$288 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Portland, OR 97229 81%2,336$161,570$782,100$309 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · newer homes
Kenmore, WA 98028 80%2,299$139,764$920,800$474 pricier homes ($274K more) · smaller · less walkable
Olney, MD 20832 79%20$168,524$627,000$290 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Germantown, MD 20876 79%16$119,731$487,300$264 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller
Ellicott City, MD 21043 79%36$148,125$620,900$272 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents · less walkable
Columbia, MD 21045 79%33$118,563$453,700$255 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($194K less)
Charlotte, NC 28211 79%324$132,917$774,900$360 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($128K more) · more renters
Atlanta, GA 30338 79%519$135,148$611,300$249 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Broomfield, CO 80020 79%1,473$117,243$601,800$262 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($45K less)
Folsom, CA 95630 79%2,334$139,642$755,200$382 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger · older residents
Bothell, WA 98012 79%2,297$146,144$876,600$437 pricier homes ($229K more) · larger · newer homes
Kirkland, WA 98034 79%2,297$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($299K more)
Mukilteo, WA 98275 79%2,302$132,861$884,900$418 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($238K more) · smaller
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 78%374$139,302$592,300$353 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents · less walkable

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.