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 20879

Gaithersburg: median income $112,104, home value $468,100, $255/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Manassas, VA 20110 90%33$118,486$464,300$271 larger
Alexandria, VA 22309 90%32$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($99K more) · older homes
Haverhill, MA 01835 89%403$113,578$468,800$311 smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 88%911$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Woodridge, IL 60517 88%598$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Schaumburg, IL 60194 87%606$97,994$329,700$251 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Westminster, CO 80031 87%1,479$107,422$535,300$249 pricier homes ($67K more) · more single-family homes
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 86%169$121,071$433,800$319 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more renters
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323 86%918$113,481$482,200$334 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 86%603$103,392$382,000$232 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older residents
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 85%149$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Royersford, PA 19468 85%113$108,534$402,800$246 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 85%906$97,412$500,700$296 pricier homes ($33K more) · more renters · newer homes
Denver, CO 80227 85%1,484$90,316$559,200$266 pricier homes ($91K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80234 85%1,477$92,563$530,300$237 pricier homes ($62K more)
Hatfield, PA 19440 84%126$99,408$438,500$258 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Carol Stream, IL 60188 84%605$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger
Voorhees, NJ 08043 83%127$105,473$429,700$242 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Bordentown, NJ 08505 83%148$112,845$362,500$263 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Woodbridge, VA 22192 83%35$127,177$486,400$257 larger · less walkable
Miami, FL 33186 83%952$93,462$465,400$338 larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33325 83%921$100,553$455,000$348 less walkable
Thornton, CO 80241 83%1,476$110,218$542,100$234 pricier homes ($74K more) · more single-family homes
Renton, WA 98055 83%2,300$97,224$602,800$326 pricier homes ($135K more) · more renters
Parlin, NJ 08859 82%177$99,882$445,800$372 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.