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 Clarksburg, MD 20871

Clarksburg: median income $177,523, home value $668,800, $226/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chantilly, VA 20152 91%27$197,156$766,200$279 pricier homes ($97K more)
Gainesville, VA 20155 82%35$164,279$659,100$252 less walkable
Aldie, VA 20105 79%26$219,123$858,900$282 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($190K more) · less walkable
Bristow, VA 20136 78%38$183,750$615,600$235 cheaper homes ($53K less) · less walkable
Lorton, VA 22079 77%38$148,134$637,600$316 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters
Aurora, IL 60502 77%603$156,904$412,300$225 cheaper homes ($257K less) · more renters · older homes
Naperville, IL 60564 77%598$181,382$572,100$263 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Mars, PA 16046 76%177$151,560$481,300$212 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller
Leesburg, VA 20176 75%14$168,299$747,100$286 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Pompano Beach, FL 33076 75%909$176,641$832,000$351 pricier homes ($163K more) · more single-family homes
Chester Springs, PA 19425 74%105$211,739$656,700$220 higher income ($34K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Broomfield, CO 80023 74%1,471$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($200K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Dumfries, VA 22025 73%44$150,306$528,600$236 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller
Springfield, VA 22153 73%34$174,228$693,600$344 older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55446 73%920$170,625$583,500$210 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 12 min shorter commute
Frisco, TX 75033 73%1,165$174,762$652,100$228 larger · more renters · more single-family homes
Aurora, CO 80016 73%1,460$150,492$761,700$200 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Sterling, VA 20165 72%14$183,076$704,800$295 pricier homes ($36K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Haymarket, VA 20169 72%32$203,051$729,600$253 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($61K more) · more single-family homes
Davidson, NC 28036 72%323$156,496$630,900$313 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Alpharetta, GA 30004 72%526$156,100$657,700$249 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Novi, MI 48374 72%395$182,827$577,700$222 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78732 72%1,316$192,500$853,900$276 pricier homes ($185K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Furlong, PA 18925 71%138$207,609$730,000$248 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Blue Bell, PA 19422 71%124$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents · more renters

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.