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 20904

Silver Spring: median income $96,025, home value $560,000, $247/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Smyrna, GA 30080 88%549$91,957$450,400$227 cheaper homes ($110K less) · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22306 87%22$97,132$594,000$343 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22312 85%19$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 85%533$79,309$486,800$210 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Marlborough, MA 01752 84%365$91,968$513,100$303 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Alexandria, VA 22309 84%25$107,376$567,200$327 smaller · more homeowners
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 83%901$97,412$500,700$296 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · newer homes
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 82%164$121,071$433,800$319 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($126K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 82%162$100,697$613,600$349 pricier homes ($54K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30350 82%538$88,118$516,000$194 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 82%914$85,000$379,700$262 cheaper homes ($180K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lisle, IL 60532 82%612$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Voorhees, NJ 08043 81%121$105,473$429,700$242 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lansdale, PA 19446 81%121$106,310$441,100$257 cheaper homes ($119K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Falls Church, VA 22041 81%17$92,636$452,300$311 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Fredericksburg, VA 22401 81%59$86,230$483,700$249 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30341 81%540$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · younger residents
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 80%177$96,725$616,300$447 pricier homes ($56K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Marietta, GA 30067 80%546$83,568$445,900$210 cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Austin, TX 78723 80%1,318$100,329$562,300$355 smaller · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80227 80%1,495$90,316$559,200$266 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80234 80%1,489$92,563$530,300$237 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98466 80%2,329$101,778$602,400$351 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32819 79%777$98,109$489,700$278 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Naperville, IL 60563 79%616$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($124K 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.