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 Germantown, MD 20874

Germantown: median income $115,022, home value $399,000, $263/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Centreville, VA 20121 89%24$129,947$520,200$320 pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 83%915$85,000$379,700$262 lower income ($30K less)
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 82%174$121,071$433,800$319 pricier homes ($35K more) · more single-family homes
Schaumburg, IL 60194 80%602$97,994$329,700$251 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22041 79%21$92,636$452,300$311 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · more renters
Miami, FL 33180 79%925$91,055$501,000$330 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller · older residents
Royersford, PA 19468 78%119$108,534$402,800$246 smaller · more single-family homes · less walkable
Lansdale, PA 19446 77%130$106,310$441,100$257 pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22309 77%30$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($168K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 76%154$125,514$428,000$294 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Woodbridge, VA 22191 76%35$109,316$454,300$246 pricier homes ($55K more) · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Woodbridge, VA 22192 76%32$127,177$486,400$257 pricier homes ($87K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 76%903$97,412$500,700$296 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Aurora, IL 60504 76%604$98,008$286,500$219 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Lisle, IL 60532 76%596$102,085$386,300$253 smaller · more single-family homes
Manassas, VA 20110 75%29$118,486$464,300$271 pricier homes ($65K more) · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22306 75%28$97,132$594,000$343 pricier homes ($195K more) · smaller · more renters
Alexandria, VA 22312 75%23$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($205K more) · smaller · more renters
Wheeling, IL 60090 75%595$85,355$264,800$228 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller
Smyrna, GA 30080 74%541$91,957$450,400$227 pricier homes ($51K more) · more renters
Miami, FL 33178 74%938$96,653$552,300$347 pricier homes ($153K more) · more renters · newer homes
Naperville, IL 60563 74%600$109,783$435,600$271 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Carol Stream, IL 60188 73%601$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more single-family homes
Voorhees, NJ 08043 72%133$105,473$429,700$242 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19128 72%126$93,173$353,500$256 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older 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.