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 Burtonsville, MD 20866

Burtonsville: median income $140,308, home value $446,900, $241/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woodbridge, VA 22192 87%35$127,177$486,400$257 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Haverhill, MA 01835 83%396$113,578$468,800$311 lower income ($27K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Matawan, NJ 07747 80%170$124,383$485,600$372 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Manassas, VA 20110 80%38$118,486$464,300$271 larger · younger residents
Dumfries, VA 22026 80%41$124,318$483,000$250 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Lumberton, NJ 08048 78%128$113,440$432,100$232 lower income ($27K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Clinton, NJ 08809 78%152$131,250$420,500$325 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · less walkable
Schaumburg, IL 60194 78%621$97,994$329,700$251 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($117K less) · 6 min shorter commute
North Chelmsford, MA 01863 77%379$144,875$491,600$360 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
North Attleboro, MA 02760 77%355$112,027$478,700$330 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Trenton, NJ 08691 77%147$132,520$552,000$305 pricier homes ($105K more)
North Wales, PA 19454 77%118$118,177$457,900$265 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Royersford, PA 19468 77%107$108,534$402,800$246 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Lorton, VA 22079 77%31$148,134$637,600$316 pricier homes ($191K more) · larger
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 77%617$103,392$382,000$232 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($65K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 76%140$125,514$428,000$294 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Somerset, NJ 08873 76%162$124,972$465,800$333 larger · less walkable
Centreville, VA 20121 76%34$129,947$520,200$320 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22309 76%27$107,376$567,200$327 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($120K more) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33325 76%918$100,553$455,000$348 lower income ($40K less) · larger
Hackettstown, NJ 07840 75%165$105,866$396,100$302 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Bordentown, NJ 08505 75%139$112,845$362,500$263 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($84K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Manassas, VA 20111 75%36$113,879$476,000$258 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Dumfries, VA 22025 75%40$150,306$528,600$236 pricier homes ($82K more) · more single-family homes
Palatine, IL 60067 75%618$125,446$426,600$257 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes

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.