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 Brentwood, MD 20722

Brentwood: median income $91,875, home value $381,300, $246/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tacoma, WA 98418 83%2,331$89,706$413,400$272 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
South River, NJ 08882 81%172$96,147$405,200$331 larger · less walkable
Bogota, NJ 07603 80%205$103,299$501,600$391 pricier homes ($120K more) · older homes
Stratford, NJ 08084 80%120$98,427$273,800$257 cheaper homes ($108K less) · less walkable
Morton, PA 19070 80%110$95,795$323,100$248 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Franklin Park, IL 60131 78%610$76,658$287,000$278 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98408 78%2,331$80,899$410,500$320 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Keansburg, NJ 07734 77%182$82,029$346,900$340 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Plainfield, NJ 07062 76%179$98,344$396,100$417 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Netcong, NJ 07857 76%180$85,898$346,100$354 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older residents
Runnemede, NJ 08078 76%118$86,741$250,800$235 cheaper homes ($131K less) · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Levittown, PA 19056 76%138$111,594$378,400$237 larger · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Harwood Heights, IL 60706 76%608$84,530$358,000$268 larger · older residents · newer homes
Plainfield, NJ 07063 75%176$93,304$392,500$383 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Hillside, NJ 07205 75%189$99,528$397,400$353 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Keyport, NJ 07735 75%179$97,536$406,000$382 larger · less walkable
Mount Ephraim, NJ 08059 75%119$89,375$249,700$256 cheaper homes ($132K less) · 12 min shorter commute
Florence, NJ 08518 75%140$97,045$331,800$247 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75223 75%1,184$73,318$265,100$271 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
North Providence, RI 02911 74%352$89,456$360,200$251 larger · 9 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Lyons, IL 60534 74%605$70,890$257,300$224 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Cranston, RI 02910 73%350$90,698$338,700$271 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 12 min shorter commute
Roselle, NJ 07203 73%186$92,762$379,900$350 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Pitman, NJ 08071 73%112$100,085$282,400$243 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hillside, IL 60162 73%610$72,320$246,800$283 cheaper homes ($135K less) · older residents · 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.