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 20852

Rockville: median income $122,472, home value $665,200, $359/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfax, VA 22031 96%15$134,577$723,600$356 pricier homes ($58K more)
Secaucus, NJ 07094 87%202$139,821$571,900$352 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Reston, VA 20190 87%13$134,746$581,400$402 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Plainsboro, NJ 08536 86%162$137,607$704,100$404 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30305 86%541$106,907$737,500$391 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Mc Lean, VA 22102 84%9$153,949$955,500$417 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($290K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77079 83%1,229$101,995$679,900$339 more single-family homes
Fairfax, VA 22033 81%19$143,454$648,800$355 more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22303 81%18$103,656$552,800$386 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22204 80%13$107,941$688,000$418 older homes
Alexandria, VA 22302 80%15$123,539$631,100$441 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22304 79%16$101,600$508,200$320 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Atlanta, GA 30328 79%537$112,111$561,900$236 cheaper homes ($103K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30342 79%538$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($164K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60611 79%586$125,675$650,800$394 more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97239 79%2,340$110,134$772,700$321 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Conshohocken, PA 19428 78%120$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($187K less) · smaller · younger residents
Fairfax, VA 22030 78%18$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($75K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22203 78%12$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($162K more) · smaller · younger residents
Emeryville, CA 94608 78%2,420$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($184K more) · more renters · older homes
Arlington, VA 22206 77%14$140,877$586,000$431 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller · older homes
Chicago, IL 60642 77%587$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · younger residents
Walnut Creek, CA 94597 77%2,407$132,063$1,026,800$597 pricier homes ($362K more) · smaller
Washington, DC 20024 76%13$107,411$526,700$367 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Charlotte, NC 28209 76%337$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · 8 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.