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 20851

Rockville: median income $126,411, home value $568,900, $363/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Milford, NJ 07646 94%208$114,889$580,400$467 Very close on everything we compare
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 89%203$123,734$552,900$430 older residents
Fords, NJ 08863 89%180$115,861$438,000$386 cheaper homes ($131K less) · more homeowners
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 88%209$130,045$491,500$484 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · more homeowners
Dumont, NJ 07628 88%210$126,071$497,400$420 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more homeowners
Stamford, CT 06907 87%236$106,379$590,000$421 smaller
Iselin, NJ 08830 87%181$109,500$426,800$482 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Tacoma, WA 98406 87%2,321$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Weymouth, MA 02188 86%389$107,335$594,000$396 pricier homes ($25K more)
Clifton, NJ 07012 86%199$101,737$483,800$498 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Wood Ridge, NJ 07075 86%202$136,108$566,200$418 more apartments and townhomes
Maywood, NJ 07607 86%205$117,912$533,500$420 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Red Bank, NJ 07701 86%185$112,143$584,500$472 larger
Seattle, WA 98166 86%2,313$114,969$824,400$420 pricier homes ($256K more) · older residents
Dunellen, NJ 08812 85%176$118,316$442,900$356 cheaper homes ($126K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98146 85%2,313$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger
Nutley, NJ 07110 84%198$119,646$517,500$421 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · more homeowners
Roselle Park, NJ 07204 84%187$109,679$443,200$389 cheaper homes ($126K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Falls Church, VA 22042 84%15$138,255$715,800$426 pricier homes ($147K more) · larger
Springfield, VA 22150 84%21$123,114$635,900$335 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98178 84%2,308$99,505$660,400$367 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Waltham, MA 02451 83%384$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($184K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30317 83%543$107,955$541,100$351 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Danvers, MA 01923 82%403$125,395$644,200$428 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · older residents
Braintree, MA 02184 82%387$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · more homeowners

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.