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 20708

Laurel: median income $83,367, home value $451,500, $249/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Danbury, CT 06810 91%241$76,933$402,100$287 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Fredericksburg, VA 22401 89%62$86,230$483,700$249 pricier homes ($32K more)
Framingham, MA 01702 88%360$82,496$583,000$340 pricier homes ($132K more)
Manassas, VA 20109 87%41$89,962$421,100$279 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · newer homes
Manchester, NH 03102 82%390$74,327$343,300$277 cheaper homes ($108K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Marietta, GA 30067 82%552$83,568$445,900$210 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Pompano Beach, FL 33065 82%905$74,226$434,100$271 larger · more homeowners · more walkable
Euless, TX 76039 82%1,207$83,140$341,300$218 cheaper homes ($110K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Nashua, NH 03060 81%380$79,855$362,600$302 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Kent, WA 98032 81%2,325$82,636$520,800$327 pricier homes ($69K more) · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98188 81%2,324$76,438$456,400$323 8 min shorter commute
Lowell, MA 01854 79%380$72,709$412,000$330 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more walkable
Long Branch, NJ 07740 79%174$79,870$578,800$453 pricier homes ($127K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55425 79%931$76,274$339,500$209 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Federal Way, WA 98003 79%2,326$75,319$476,600$314 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · more walkable
Marlborough, MA 01752 78%359$91,968$513,100$303 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more homeowners
Norwalk, CT 06854 78%229$86,679$460,500$436 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22306 78%24$97,132$594,000$343 pricier homes ($143K more) · more homeowners · more walkable
Winter Park, FL 32792 78%766$69,200$374,200$256 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · more homeowners
Hialeah, FL 33014 78%931$77,338$424,200$327 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more walkable
Miami, FL 33181 78%929$63,275$352,500$295 cheaper homes ($99K less) · more walkable
Nashville, TN 37217 78%575$62,796$317,400$193 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 77%540$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Duluth, GA 30096 77%536$74,656$375,200$200 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Hollywood, FL 33025 77%924$68,743$364,800$277 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · newer 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.