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 Laurel, MD 20707

Laurel: median income $107,706, home value $423,400, $250/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 89%157$121,071$433,800$319 less walkable
Alexandria, VA 22306 89%27$97,132$594,000$343 pricier homes ($171K more)
Falls Church, VA 22041 87%23$92,636$452,300$311 pricier homes ($29K more)
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 87%905$97,412$500,700$296 pricier homes ($77K more) · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22309 86%30$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($144K more)
Alexandria, VA 22312 86%25$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($181K more)
Lisle, IL 60532 85%618$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($37K less) · less walkable
Smyrna, GA 30080 84%557$91,957$450,400$227 pricier homes ($27K more)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 84%918$85,000$379,700$262 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Parlin, NJ 08859 83%165$99,882$445,800$372 older homes
Aurora, IL 60504 83%625$98,008$286,500$219 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Westmont, IL 60559 83%612$90,963$365,300$280 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80234 83%1,495$92,563$530,300$237 pricier homes ($107K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Marlborough, MA 01752 82%358$91,968$513,100$303 pricier homes ($90K more) · less walkable
Edison, NJ 08837 82%167$102,605$437,900$389 smaller · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30341 82%547$86,313$463,100$287 pricier homes ($40K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Renton, WA 98055 82%2,317$97,224$602,800$326 pricier homes ($179K more) · smaller
Voorhees, NJ 08043 81%114$105,473$429,700$242 more single-family homes
Edison, NJ 08817 80%163$110,808$431,100$411 more single-family homes · older homes
Horsham, PA 19044 80%118$88,173$402,400$297 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Lansdale, PA 19446 80%115$106,310$441,100$257 larger · older residents · less walkable
Manassas, VA 20109 80%41$89,962$421,100$279 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33351 80%915$77,363$371,400$256 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($52K less)
Schaumburg, IL 60194 80%623$97,994$329,700$251 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Arvada, CO 80002 80%1,500$93,362$558,500$322 pricier homes ($135K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute

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.