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 Derwood, MD 20855

Derwood: median income $149,110, home value $640,300, $297/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canton, MA 02021 93%378$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($70K more)
Blue Bell, PA 19422 93%122$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 91%358$139,302$592,300$353 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Walpole, MA 02081 91%372$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($47K more)
Alexandria, VA 22310 91%25$166,061$659,700$355 larger
Franklin, MA 02038 90%364$145,773$611,700$343 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Ashland, MA 01721 88%368$127,539$611,700$353 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable
North Andover, MA 01845 88%399$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 88%184$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 88%171$143,586$522,700$357 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Chantilly, VA 20151 88%23$158,271$676,800$317 pricier homes ($37K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Naperville, IL 60540 88%605$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Randolph, NJ 07869 87%180$169,497$665,700$351 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Ambler, PA 19002 87%126$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Ramsey, NJ 07446 86%207$160,996$697,300$450 pricier homes ($57K more) · older homes
Trenton, NJ 08691 86%155$132,520$552,000$305 cheaper homes ($88K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 86%250$150,505$680,200$382 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Newtown, PA 18940 86%140$157,414$655,000$316 larger
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 86%120$147,418$537,400$279 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 85%167$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Flemington, NJ 08822 85%155$137,788$536,900$310 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · less walkable
Dumfries, VA 22025 85%38$150,306$528,600$236 cheaper homes ($112K less) · more homeowners
Springfield, VA 22153 85%27$174,228$693,600$344 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Clarendon Hills, IL 60514 85%597$118,716$566,300$332 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Edison, NJ 08820 84%178$171,363$630,200$391 larger · 7 min longer 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.