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 Reston, VA 20190

Reston: median income $134,746, home value $581,400, $402/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rockville, MD 20852 87%13$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Secaucus, NJ 07094 82%215$139,821$571,900$352 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30305 81%528$106,907$737,500$391 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($156K more) · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60642 81%579$143,175$593,600$385 younger residents · more renters · more walkable
Rockville, MD 20850 80%13$125,950$714,400$331 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60611 80%577$125,675$650,800$394 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · more walkable
Atlanta, GA 30309 78%530$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($149K less) · younger residents
Plainsboro, NJ 08536 76%175$137,607$704,100$404 pricier homes ($123K more) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30326 76%526$121,984$448,000$323 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · younger residents
Miami, FL 33129 76%927$113,367$736,300$632 pricier homes ($155K more) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Washington, DC 20024 74%18$107,411$526,700$367 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 73%902$124,812$884,800$542 pricier homes ($303K more) · newer homes
Edgewater, NJ 07020 72%220$124,050$715,700$525 pricier homes ($134K more) · 11 min longer commute · more walkable
Washington, DC 20001 72%18$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($271K more) · larger · younger residents
Orlando, FL 32814 72%753$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($173K more) · smaller · more renters
Chicago, IL 60605 72%577$123,922$453,200$334 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19123 71%136$102,106$539,500$326 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents
Conshohocken, PA 19428 70%133$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($103K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Columbia, MD 21044 70%30$135,057$566,500$250 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30339 70%529$103,277$465,800$242 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60607 70%578$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Chicago, IL 60610 70%578$105,226$505,900$394 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77019 70%1,208$116,423$816,500$298 pricier homes ($235K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30328 69%524$112,111$561,900$236 larger · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30342 69%525$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($248K more) · larger · younger 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.