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 Silver Spring, MD 20902

Silver Spring: median income $114,486, home value $551,200, $316/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Orange, NJ 07052 89%191$129,475$556,800$394 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, VA 22309 89%22$107,376$567,200$327 smaller
Beverly, MA 01915 88%404$104,918$649,700$475 pricier homes ($99K more)
Union, NJ 07083 88%186$121,887$455,300$392 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Nutley, NJ 07110 88%196$119,646$517,500$421 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Edison, NJ 08817 87%174$110,808$431,100$411 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Falls Church, VA 22042 87%15$138,255$715,800$426 pricier homes ($165K more) · smaller
Springfield, VA 22150 87%20$123,114$635,900$335 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30316 87%547$102,891$443,400$299 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · newer homes
Red Bank, NJ 07701 86%183$112,143$584,500$472 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · older residents
Mount Prospect, IL 60056 86%608$101,922$397,200$272 cheaper homes ($154K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Matawan, NJ 07747 85%177$124,383$485,600$372 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · newer homes
Somerville, NJ 08876 85%165$122,884$485,100$359 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Ossining, NY 10562 85%224$115,697$498,700$392 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older residents
Annandale, VA 22003 85%17$138,794$732,400$338 pricier homes ($181K more)
Seattle, WA 98118 85%2,314$113,762$810,500$480 pricier homes ($259K more)
Norwood, MA 02062 84%376$107,030$651,700$432 pricier homes ($101K more) · smaller
Braintree, MA 02184 84%385$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($106K more) · more homeowners
Randolph, MA 02368 84%382$109,665$496,800$346 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Attleboro, MA 02703 84%362$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Norwalk, CT 06851 84%241$111,341$587,400$407 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
Englewood, NJ 07631 84%207$102,571$544,100$428 smaller
New Milford, NJ 07646 84%207$114,889$580,400$467 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 84%172$109,312$486,600$372 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents
Yonkers, NY 10710 84%215$108,845$560,000$392 smaller · 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.