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 Bowie, MD 20716

Bowie: median income $125,034, home value $429,600, $250/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Matawan, NJ 07747 89%167$124,383$485,600$372 pricier homes ($56K more)
Voorhees, NJ 08043 87%113$105,473$429,700$242 5 min shorter commute
North Attleboro, MA 02760 86%353$112,027$478,700$330 pricier homes ($49K more) · older homes
Hackettstown, NJ 07840 86%166$105,866$396,100$302 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable
Warrington, PA 18976 86%124$123,285$536,200$290 pricier homes ($107K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Langhorne, PA 19047 86%129$109,530$467,000$285 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
North Wales, PA 19454 86%118$118,177$457,900$265 pricier homes ($28K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 85%138$125,514$428,000$294 7 min shorter commute
Woodbridge, VA 22192 85%37$127,177$486,400$257 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · younger residents
Marlton, NJ 08053 84%117$118,670$397,600$259 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323 84%907$113,481$482,200$334 pricier homes ($53K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Dundee, IL 60118 84%646$106,912$357,900$208 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Lumberton, NJ 08048 83%124$113,440$432,100$232 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Trenton, NJ 08691 83%144$132,520$552,000$305 pricier homes ($122K more)
Somerset, NJ 08873 83%160$124,972$465,800$333 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · less walkable
Nanuet, NY 10954 83%207$116,332$533,000$383 pricier homes ($103K more) · older homes
Palatine, IL 60067 83%634$125,446$426,600$257 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 83%633$103,392$382,000$232 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Haverhill, MA 01835 82%395$113,578$468,800$311 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Norristown, PA 19403 82%110$104,071$375,100$238 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Springfield, VA 22150 82%28$123,114$635,900$335 pricier homes ($206K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22309 82%26$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($138K more) · larger · older homes
Itasca, IL 60143 82%630$114,420$398,500$231 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Woodridge, IL 60517 82%628$99,024$361,700$229 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents
Darien, IL 60561 82%624$112,549$404,300$246 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 6 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.