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 Olney, MD 20832

Olney: median income $168,524, home value $627,000, $290/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springfield, VA 22153 96%29$174,228$693,600$344 pricier homes ($67K more)
Chantilly, VA 20151 94%27$158,271$676,800$317 pricier homes ($50K more)
Burke, VA 22015 94%27$172,563$696,500$346 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22310 93%26$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($33K more)
Blue Bell, PA 19422 92%118$158,288$611,900$274 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, VA 22152 91%27$165,906$648,200$327 Very close on everything we compare
Newtown, PA 18940 88%136$157,414$655,000$316 pricier homes ($28K more) · less walkable
Franklin, MA 02038 86%360$145,773$611,700$343 less walkable
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 86%163$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · less walkable
Dumfries, VA 22025 86%41$150,306$528,600$236 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Fairfax, VA 22032 86%26$178,394$799,200$361 pricier homes ($172K more) · more single-family homes
Naperville, IL 60540 86%609$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Walpole, MA 02081 85%368$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($61K more) · less walkable
Libertyville, IL 60048 85%609$173,975$551,200$288 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 84%123$155,059$443,400$252 cheaper homes ($184K less)
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 84%167$143,586$522,700$357 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Ambler, PA 19002 84%122$143,600$602,100$292 older homes
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 84%116$147,418$537,400$279 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Geneva, IL 60134 84%619$152,727$448,900$249 cheaper homes ($178K less) · more single-family homes
Randolph, NJ 07869 83%177$169,497$665,700$351 pricier homes ($39K more) · less walkable
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 83%180$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Chalfont, PA 18914 83%126$148,824$491,300$272 cheaper homes ($136K less) · less walkable
Lorton, VA 22079 83%33$148,134$637,600$316 more apartments and townhomes
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 83%606$137,658$514,300$290 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Roswell, GA 30075 82%537$157,335$611,500$244 larger · less walkable

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.