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 Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Gaithersburg: median income $144,313, home value $715,800, $302/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Centreville, VA 20120 91%22$152,563$648,700$317 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Fairfax, VA 22033 90%18$143,454$648,800$355 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Lorton, VA 22079 89%29$148,134$637,600$316 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Fairfax, VA 22030 88%19$139,831$740,400$347 younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30338 88%529$135,148$611,300$249 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller
West Chester, PA 19382 87%106$132,091$568,500$282 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Alexandria, VA 22310 87%24$166,061$659,700$355 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22315 87%25$159,805$618,100$346 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
North Andover, MA 01845 86%404$140,670$732,900$367 smaller
West Chester, PA 19380 86%107$122,899$564,400$278 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Reston, VA 20191 86%14$151,185$641,800$350 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Decatur, GA 30030 86%538$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Herndon, VA 20171 85%15$171,372$797,200$331 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($81K more) · younger residents
Alpharetta, GA 30009 85%523$126,510$640,500$317 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · newer homes
Blue Bell, PA 19422 84%127$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Burke, VA 22015 84%22$172,563$696,500$346 higher income ($28K more) · more homeowners
Plano, TX 75093 84%1,166$124,563$670,500$259 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more single-family homes
Ashburn, VA 20147 83%13$163,904$718,500$311 less walkable · newer homes
Herndon, VA 20170 83%11$159,466$647,200$326 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30319 83%535$130,648$762,500$301 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents · more renters
Englewood, CO 80111 83%1,470$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($201K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Princeton, NJ 08540 82%164$176,983$767,900$431 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($52K more)
Malvern, PA 19355 82%112$169,417$692,300$315 higher income ($25K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 81%154$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($288K less) · smaller
Phoenixville, PA 19460 81%115$124,050$455,900$251 cheaper homes ($260K less)

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.