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 Beltsville, MD 20705

Beltsville: median income $110,351, home value $446,700, $237/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Attleboro, MA 02703 93%356$99,152$448,800$316 larger
Manassas, VA 20110 92%37$118,486$464,300$271 larger
Woodridge, IL 60517 92%614$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Haverhill, MA 01835 91%398$113,578$468,800$311 smaller
Burlington, NJ 08016 91%131$98,463$339,100$227 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Mount Holly, NJ 08060 91%132$109,292$338,100$234 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Bordentown, NJ 08505 91%140$112,845$362,500$263 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Forest Grove, OR 97116 91%2,372$92,613$495,800$262 pricier homes ($49K more)
Milford, MA 01757 90%355$96,621$478,100$298 pricier homes ($31K more) · 6 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80232 90%1,499$96,217$521,600$251 pricier homes ($75K more)
Hatfield, PA 19440 89%121$99,408$438,500$258 6 min shorter commute
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 89%905$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($130K more)
Carol Stream, IL 60188 89%621$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Parlin, NJ 08859 88%170$99,882$445,800$372 Very close on everything we compare
Sayreville, NJ 08872 88%168$97,489$447,200$362 Very close on everything we compare
Souderton, PA 18964 88%120$96,143$356,100$253 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Westminster, CO 80031 88%1,494$107,422$535,300$249 pricier homes ($89K more)
Lakewood, WA 98498 88%2,334$91,664$506,300$324 pricier homes ($60K more)
Methuen, MA 01844 87%393$113,212$499,800$341 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
North Attleboro, MA 02760 87%357$112,027$478,700$330 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Blackwood, NJ 08012 87%113$95,451$289,700$225 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Manassas, VA 20111 87%34$113,879$476,000$258 pricier homes ($29K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22309 87%25$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($121K more)
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 87%619$103,392$382,000$232 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 87%622$90,774$306,300$241 cheaper homes ($140K less)

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.