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 Leesburg, VA 20175

Leesburg: median income $174,854, home value $780,600, $285/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alpharetta, GA 30004 87%504$156,100$657,700$249 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30005 87%502$176,957$636,300$236 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Broomfield, CO 80023 87%1,457$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($88K more) · newer homes
Ellicott City, MD 21043 86%46$148,125$620,900$272 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($160K less)
Gambrills, MD 21054 86%50$163,825$611,000$251 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78732 86%1,295$192,500$853,900$276 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Windermere, FL 34786 85%762$134,214$684,400$308 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($96K less)
Malvern, PA 19355 84%131$169,417$692,300$315 cheaper homes ($88K less) · more walkable · older homes
Wexford, PA 15090 83%170$160,576$476,400$243 cheaper homes ($304K less)
Frederick, MD 21704 83%24$161,063$612,000$227 cheaper homes ($169K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
New Albany, OH 43054 83%286$148,100$510,600$234 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($270K less)
Roanoke, TX 76262 83%1,169$151,250$577,100$248 cheaper homes ($204K less) · more single-family homes
Castle Rock, CO 80108 83%1,453$181,049$881,700$227 pricier homes ($101K more) · more single-family homes
Franklin, MA 02038 82%388$145,773$611,700$343 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($169K less) · 6 min longer commute
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 82%187$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($233K less) · 6 min longer commute
Downingtown, PA 19335 82%121$143,249$494,100$234 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($287K less) · larger
Cary, NC 27519 82%234$165,586$670,900$267 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · newer homes
Davidson, NC 28036 82%302$156,496$630,900$313 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Alpharetta, GA 30022 82%506$153,294$635,300$238 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · older residents
Tampa, FL 33626 82%812$127,118$577,100$289 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($204K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55446 82%912$170,625$583,500$210 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Coppell, TX 75019 82%1,159$141,923$559,500$266 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($221K less)
Littleton, CO 80129 82%1,460$141,667$663,800$266 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($117K less) · more walkable
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 81%191$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($189K less) · older homes
Newtown, PA 18940 81%164$157,414$655,000$316 cheaper homes ($126K 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.