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 Boyds, MD 20841

Boyds: median income $184,688, home value $782,500, $292/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Garnet Valley, PA 19060 85%106$185,043$547,000$244 cheaper homes ($236K less)
Purcellville, VA 20132 85%23$181,875$776,300$274 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 85%926$172,730$909,000$395 pricier homes ($127K more) · less walkable
Lake Worth, FL 33449 85%887$153,586$696,100$278 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($86K less) · less walkable
Doylestown, PA 18902 83%142$161,267$668,200$301 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · less walkable
Alpine, UT 84004 83%1,818$170,500$980,300$289 pricier homes ($198K more) · younger residents
Windham, NH 03087 82%400$189,583$723,300$322 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · younger residents
Driftwood, TX 78619 82%1,330$183,393$810,600$339 pricier homes ($28K more) · less walkable
Monument, CO 80132 82%1,470$161,670$773,100$225 larger
Golden, CO 80403 82%1,485$151,276$838,000$344 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Jamison, PA 18929 80%138$179,380$627,700$274 cheaper homes ($155K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Hamilton, VA 20158 80%19$211,522$765,800$291 higher income ($27K more) · smaller · less walkable
Flower Mound, TX 75022 80%1,182$177,357$657,400$258 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Chesterfield, NJ 08515 79%156$208,836$560,000$253 cheaper homes ($223K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Victoria, MN 55386 79%923$192,458$565,900$206 cheaper homes ($217K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Littleton, CO 80125 79%1,476$179,983$762,200$231 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Snoqualmie, WA 98065 79%2,275$198,216$956,600$459 pricier homes ($174K more) · larger · younger residents
Overland Park, KS 66224 78%928$188,004$652,300$225 cheaper homes ($130K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Sunnyvale, TX 75182 78%1,160$170,348$565,300$208 cheaper homes ($217K less) · less walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85045 78%1,969$153,583$634,600$280 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($148K less) · less walkable
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 78%2,328$165,467$916,000$369 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger · less walkable
Holmdel, NJ 07733 77%186$166,849$843,300$413 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Furlong, PA 18925 77%141$207,609$730,000$248 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · younger residents
Clifton, VA 20124 77%30$221,060$884,800$300 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($102K more) · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331 77%926$142,636$712,000$413 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger

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.