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 Rockville, MD 20850

Rockville: median income $125,950, home value $714,400, $331/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfax, VA 22033 89%19$143,454$648,800$355 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more homeowners
Fairfax, VA 22030 87%19$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Fairfax, VA 22031 86%16$134,577$723,600$356 younger residents · older homes
Secaucus, NJ 07094 85%202$139,821$571,900$352 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30319 84%537$130,648$762,500$301 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Alpharetta, GA 30009 83%526$126,510$640,500$317 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30328 82%536$112,111$561,900$236 cheaper homes ($153K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30305 81%541$106,907$737,500$391 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30342 81%538$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller · younger residents
Miami, FL 33178 81%936$96,653$552,300$347 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($162K less)
Lone Tree, CO 80124 81%1,476$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Exton, PA 19341 80%105$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller
Reston, VA 20190 80%13$134,746$581,400$402 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Mc Lean, VA 22102 80%10$153,949$955,500$417 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($241K more) · smaller
Naperville, IL 60563 80%607$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($279K less)
Herndon, VA 20171 79%16$171,372$797,200$331 higher income ($45K more) · pricier homes ($83K more) · younger residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 79%167$100,697$613,600$349 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77079 79%1,228$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Englewood, CO 80112 79%1,477$108,874$659,200$282 cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Bothell, WA 98011 79%2,304$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($219K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Plainsboro, NJ 08536 78%163$137,607$704,100$404 smaller · younger residents
Decatur, GA 30030 77%540$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Reston, VA 20191 76%15$151,185$641,800$350 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28211 76%336$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($61K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Plano, TX 75024 76%1,169$117,088$598,600$235 cheaper homes ($116K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters

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.