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 20876

Germantown: median income $119,731, home value $487,300, $264/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 90%150$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323 89%918$113,481$482,200$334 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenixville, PA 19460 87%112$124,050$455,900$251 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Voorhees, NJ 08043 86%129$105,473$429,700$242 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 86%911$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · more single-family homes
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 85%170$121,071$433,800$319 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · less walkable
Centreville, VA 20121 85%28$129,947$520,200$320 pricier homes ($33K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22309 85%33$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($80K more) · older homes
Westminster, CO 80031 85%1,476$107,422$535,300$249 pricier homes ($48K more) · more single-family homes
Royersford, PA 19468 84%115$108,534$402,800$246 cheaper homes ($85K less) · less walkable
Lorton, VA 22079 84%34$148,134$637,600$316 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($150K more)
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 84%907$97,412$500,700$296 Very close on everything we compare
Manassas, VA 20110 83%33$118,486$464,300$271 larger
Springfield, VA 22150 82%28$123,114$635,900$335 pricier homes ($149K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30316 82%546$102,891$443,400$299 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 82%921$117,373$573,800$350 pricier homes ($87K more) · less walkable
Woodridge, IL 60517 82%595$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Lisle, IL 60532 82%597$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($101K less) · less walkable
Naperville, IL 60563 82%601$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more renters
Haverhill, MA 01835 81%404$113,578$468,800$311 smaller · older homes
Centreville, VA 20120 81%27$152,563$648,700$317 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($161K more) · larger
Woodbridge, VA 22192 81%36$127,177$486,400$257 larger · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Roswell, GA 30076 81%530$118,170$489,700$231 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Schaumburg, IL 60194 81%603$97,994$329,700$251 cheaper homes ($158K less) · older homes
Littleton, CO 80123 81%1,481$105,932$620,100$284 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger · older residents

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.