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 20194

Reston: median income $170,988, home value $827,100, $377/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Florham Park, NJ 07932 87%200$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Princeton, NJ 08540 81%173$176,983$767,900$431 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Devon, PA 19333 81%126$173,107$760,700$386 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Malvern, PA 19355 80%121$169,417$692,300$315 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Blue Bell, PA 19422 78%137$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($215K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Glenview, IL 60026 78%588$137,778$694,200$346 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($133K less) · more walkable
Austin, TX 78730 78%1,303$158,673$1,014,700$360 pricier homes ($188K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Englewood, CO 80111 78%1,467$135,995$916,500$314 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Lincolnshire, IL 60069 77%598$162,826$611,900$276 cheaper homes ($215K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 76%10$144,313$715,800$302 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77024 76%1,213$136,149$1,127,500$414 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($300K more) · larger
Issaquah, WA 98029 76%2,290$170,759$1,063,200$525 pricier homes ($236K more) · larger · younger residents
Alpharetta, GA 30009 75%514$126,510$640,500$317 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($187K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37215 74%556$155,863$1,046,500$413 pricier homes ($219K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Issaquah, WA 98027 74%2,290$153,301$996,600$507 pricier homes ($170K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Bedford, MA 01730 73%399$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($71K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Wayne, PA 19087 73%128$171,179$748,200$364 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 73%2,333$130,603$837,100$364 lower income ($40K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Louisville, CO 80027 72%1,478$154,232$890,200$358 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Ellicott City, MD 21043 71%35$148,125$620,900$272 cheaper homes ($206K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30327 71%529$189,250$1,136,500$399 pricier homes ($309K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80238 71%1,472$180,940$832,200$295 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Bethesda, MD 20814 70%13$150,996$989,600$425 pricier homes ($163K more) · larger · more renters
Decatur, GA 30030 70%528$126,830$631,500$328 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
Westborough, MA 01581 69%376$141,944$685,300$394 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger

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.