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 20853

Rockville: median income $159,080, home value $631,900, $302/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springfield, VA 22151 96%21$156,015$655,800$350 smaller
Middletown, NJ 07748 90%182$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Butler, NJ 07405 88%193$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Trumbull, CT 06611 87%254$163,073$547,300$317 cheaper homes ($85K less) · less walkable
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 87%176$130,205$470,900$386 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($161K less)
Huntington Station, NY 11746 86%231$164,589$695,200$444 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · less walkable
Colonia, NJ 07067 85%180$122,713$493,100$393 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller
Oakland, NJ 07436 85%202$161,971$591,000$390 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · less walkable
Wayne, NJ 07470 85%198$153,056$612,700$382 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Denville, NJ 07834 85%186$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Elmhurst, IL 60126 85%601$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Clark, NJ 07066 84%182$133,504$609,600$413 lower income ($26K less) · smaller
Bellmore, NY 11710 84%218$173,054$672,500$510 pricier homes ($41K more)
East Northport, NY 11731 84%234$161,132$646,600$459 Very close on everything we compare
Farmingdale, NY 11735 84%225$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Smithtown, NY 11787 84%239$143,101$679,800$424 pricier homes ($48K more) · less walkable
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 84%130$128,295$560,200$257 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($72K less)
Springfield, PA 19064 84%110$136,893$414,500$286 cheaper homes ($217K less)
Riverside, CA 92506 84%2,246$121,459$669,500$384 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($38K more)
Chelmsford, MA 01824 83%385$140,050$619,700$384 less walkable
Wilmington, MA 01887 83%391$168,152$680,500$422 pricier homes ($49K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Milltown, NJ 08850 83%169$141,601$470,700$410 cheaper homes ($161K less) · smaller
Oceanside, NY 11572 83%212$148,790$634,500$487 Very close on everything we compare
Massapequa, NY 11758 83%222$154,110$653,800$504 larger
Nesconset, NY 11767 83%242$152,985$637,900$407 smaller · 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.