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 20191

Reston: median income $151,185, home value $641,800, $350/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbia, MD 21044 88%32$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 86%14$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Columbia, MD 21046 83%31$127,813$479,500$252 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller
Decatur, GA 30030 83%525$126,830$631,500$328 more single-family homes
Secaucus, NJ 07094 81%217$139,821$571,900$352 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Morristown, NJ 07960 80%199$160,334$735,600$476 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30338 80%517$135,148$611,300$249 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more single-family homes
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 79%165$125,514$428,000$294 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($214K less) · more single-family homes
West Chester, PA 19382 79%117$132,091$568,500$282 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Annapolis, MD 21401 79%43$123,381$601,400$331 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28211 79%322$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($133K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30307 79%527$140,677$727,200$357 pricier homes ($85K more) · more single-family homes
Stamford, CT 06905 78%251$136,757$618,400$413 more single-family homes · older homes
Conshohocken, PA 19428 78%135$122,835$478,500$315 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller
Ellicott City, MD 21043 78%37$148,125$620,900$272 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Tampa, FL 33609 78%815$115,844$605,600$361 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 77%132$144,471$803,100$388 pricier homes ($161K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Columbia, MD 21045 77%34$118,563$453,700$255 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($188K less) · more single-family homes
Westborough, MA 01581 76%379$141,944$685,300$394 pricier homes ($44K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
North Andover, MA 01845 76%417$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($91K more) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 76%202$156,458$791,100$530 pricier homes ($149K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Laurel, MD 20723 76%30$138,113$525,400$255 cheaper homes ($116K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Rockville, MD 20850 76%15$125,950$714,400$331 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30009 76%511$126,510$640,500$317 more single-family homes · newer homes
Houston, TX 77024 76%1,211$136,149$1,127,500$414 pricier homes ($486K more) · more single-family homes

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.